Tenoch Huerta Exits Film Following Sexual Assault Allegations — Here’s the Latest
Tenoch Huerta is no longer starring in the Netflix film Fiesta en la Madriguera. On Wednesday (June 21), the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever star announced he was exiting the project because of the sexual assault allegations that were leveled against him last week by musician and activist María Elena Ríos.
“Given the impact of the recent false statements by María Elena Ríos and the damage they have caused, I have no choice but to withdraw from participating in the film Fiesta en la Madriguera,” Huerta said in a statement reported by Deadline.
Huerta added: “It is with great sadness that I do this, but I cannot allow her actions to harm not only me, but also the work of dozens of talented and hard-working people involved in the project. My focus now is simple: continue the process of restoring my reputation.”
In a series of tweets last week, Ríos referred to Huerta as a “sexual predator.” When asked by a Twitter user if Huerta had sexually assaulted her, she seemingly confirmed the claim and said there were other victims as well.
She also explained that she didn’t come forward with the allegations sooner because “justice is unattainable” in a sexist country like Mexico and that she was afraid her life would be in danger if she spoke up. She also said it was a difficult step to take because Huerta is someone who is “loved worldwide.”
In a statement the following day, Huerta denied all the accusations against him. “Although I am by no means perfect, I know that these allegations are simply untrue,” he wrote. “And while I will always work to improve myself, I need to contest claims that are both false and offensive.”
Tenoch Huerta and his working relationship with Netflix is not over. He will star in the upcoming series El Elegido (The Chosen One), which is scheduled to premiere on the streamer in August.