In a shocking turn of events, actor Tenoch Huerta, known for his role as Namor in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, has announced his departure from the upcoming Netflix film, Fiesta en la Madriguera.
This decision comes in the wake of serious allegations of sexual assault made against him by musician María Elena Ríos.
Huerta, 42, shared the news of his exit in a statement provided to ET on Wednesday. Expressing his disappointment, he stated, “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 further emphasized that his decision was not only about himself but also about protecting the hard work of numerous talented individuals involved in the project.
“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, Huerta said. “My focus now is simple: continue the process of restoring my reputation,” he added.
The Netflix film was initially announced in May and was set to be directed by Manolo Caro, with a screenplay by Nicolás Giacobone, the Oscar-winning writer of Birdman. However, the allegations made against Huerta have thrown the production into disarray.
On June 10, Ríos, 31, took to Twitter to accuse Huerta of being a “sexual predator,” a claim he vehemently denies.
In response to the allegations, Huerta labeled them as “false and completely unsubstantiated.”
Ríos alleged emotional abuse and abuse of power, stating, “It’s very difficult to talk about the emotional abuse and the abuse of power of a sexual predator who is loved around the world for playing a character in a movie such as Tenoch Huerta.”
Explaining her reluctance to report the alleged assault, Ríos pointed to the challenges faced by victims in a society where justice is often elusive. She also clarified that her motivation for speaking out was not for fame or money but rather to shed light on the truth. In a subsequent tweet, she highlighted the difficulty in convincing people that someone regarded as a “superhero” could also be an abuser and manipulator.
“I was afraid that this would happen: people who refuse to believe that a SUPER HERO is an abuser, manipulator and sexual predator,” she wrote. “Yes, you @TenochHuerta abuse because you know you have power.”
Huerta responded to the allegations by asserting that he and Ríos had a consensual relationship that lasted for several months. He expressed disappointment in Ríos for misrepresenting their interactions after their relationship ended. Huerta claimed that he had taken legal action to protect his reputation and debunk the “irresponsible and false accusations.”
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The exit of Tenoch Huerta from the Netflix film has left the production team and fans stunned. The entertainment industry, once again, faces the challenge of grappling with serious allegations against one of its own, highlighting the importance of addressing such issues and fostering an environment of safety and accountability.
