Peruvian singer Naldy Saldaña has accused César Sánchez Chavesta, musical director of the cumbia group La Bella Luz, of inappropriate touching, prompting an outpouring of support from fellow artists including Marisol, Tommy Portugal and Dayan Flor, along with several leading cumbia bands.
Saldaña made the allegation in an interview with the television programme Magaly TV, la firme on Monday, August 3, presenting evidence of what she said had happened to her. Sánchez Chavesta is a cousin of the owner of La Bella Luz.
In a statement issued on July 27, when she first announced she was leaving La Bella Luz, Saldaña had said only that there were legitimate and sufficiently important reasons behind her decision to quit the group and the stages she loves, without giving further detail at the time.
Saldaña previously sang lead vocals for Corazón Serrano, one of Peru's best known cumbia bands, before joining La Bella Luz.
Artists demand justice
Marisol was among the first Peruvian artists to speak out, saying she had gone through something similar herself, which led her to leave her own job. She said she understood exactly what Naldy must be feeling now, and stressed how much she appreciated the singer from Piura.
Tommy Portugal expressed his solidarity with Saldaña on social media, saying he hoped justice would be done and urging her to keep shining, adding that no one should be allowed to dim her light. He posted the hashtags #JusticiaParaNaldy (Justice for Naldy) and #NiUnaMenos (Not One Less).
Folk singer Dayan Flor also joined the wave of messages of support, saying music should always be a safe space and that she rejected any act of violence, abuse or harassment against women in the industry. She said she admired Saldaña's courage in speaking out and hoped it would set an example so that no one else stayed silent out of fear, telling her she was not alone.
Cumbia bands speak out
Several of Peru's leading cumbia groups also condemned Sánchez Chavesta and voiced their appreciation for Saldaña, who broke down in tears while describing the ordeal she said she went through at her former workplace. Papillón, Hermanos Yaipén, Amor Rebelde, Amaya Hermanos and Caribeños de Guadalupe were among the bands that issued public statements.
Amor Rebelde said it was joining the call for justice and reaffirming its commitment to respect, dignity and the protection of all people, adding that no one should feel alone when seeking to be heard, and offering Saldaña its full support.
Papillón called for empathy, responsibility and respect for people's dignity, urging against spreading unconfirmed information or rushing to judgment, while sending Saldaña strength and best wishes as she faces this moment.
Amaya Hermanos demanded justice for Saldaña and called on the industry to reflect and stop staying silent in the face of any physical or verbal aggression in the workplace.
Caribeños de Guadalupe said there were situations that could not and should not be normalized, expressing its deepest rejection of any form of harassment, abuse, violence or act against a woman's integrity. The band said it could not remain indifferent when a woman found the courage to report something she should never have had to endure, and extended its solidarity to Saldaña and to every woman going through a similarly difficult situation.
La Bella Luz responds
La Bella Luz confirmed the departure of Sánchez Chavesta as musical director following Saldaña's complaint, saying in a statement that it was taking on the moment with deep responsibility. Group member Mackeily Luján also addressed the case publicly, saying she was as surprised as she was outraged.
