'Wakanda Forever' Star Tenoch Huerta Denounces Singer’s ‘Sexual Predator’ Accusations as ‘False and Offensive’
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever star Tenoch Huerta denies claims that he sexually assaulted musician and activist María Elena Ríos.
In a statement sent to Variety, Huerta called Ríos’ claims “false and completely unsubstantiated” before adding, “I cannot let it go unchallenged any longer.”
According to the star, he and Ríos dated about a year ago for several months. He claimed that the relationship “was entirely consensual at all times, as countless others can attest. And throughout it was a loving, warm and mutually supportive relationship. After it ended, however, Elena began to misrepresent our interactions both privately and in front of groups of mutual friends.”
Because of the stunning allegations, Huerta says he hired a legal team “to commence the appropriate actions to protect my reputation and refute these irresponsible and false accusations that can cause great prejudice and damage.”
The statement continued, "Although I am by no means perfect, I know that these allegations are simply untrue. And while I will always work to improve myself, I need to contest claims that are both false and offensive."
Huerta concluded his message by stating, "I am deeply grateful to my family and the people who have supported me and greatly appreciate everyone who is willing to look at the facts and reflect before rushing to an untrue and unjust conclusion." The statement's English and Spanish version was also uploaded to the actor’s Instagram story.
In a series of Twitter posts over the weekend, Ríos’ alleged that the actor was a predator and was being protected by Poder Prieto, an activist organization based in Mexico to fight racism in the film industry. Ríos’ also accused Poder Prieto of exploiting her work without pay.
In a separate tweet written in Spanish, the activist and acid attack survivor wrote, "It is very difficult to talk about the emotional abuse and abuse of power of a sexual predator who is loved in the world for playing a movie character like@TenochHuerta."
