Three singers from the Peruvian cumbia group Papillón denied accusations that they harassed former bandmate Mafer Portugal, using a TikTok livestream to push back on the claims and suggest they were the ones who were mistreated.
Fiorella Castillo, Karen Peña and Claudia Salazar addressed the accusations directly after speculation spread online over who had allegedly targeted Portugal, daughter of cumbia singer Tommy Portugal.
Mafer Portugal's exit from Papillón
Portugal announced her departure from Papillón days earlier, saying she was leaving the group to prioritize her emotional wellbeing after allegedly being harassed and hounded by her now-former bandmates. She is known for the song "Me extrañarás," which has drawn millions of views on YouTube.
Claudia Salazar asks for clarity
Salazar, known by her nickname "Ñañita," asked Portugal to clarify what she had said in her statement and denied mistreating her. She said that if Portugal had something to say, she should say it directly.
Salazar said she could say many things but chooses not to because she dislikes being at the center of controversy. She said she did not harass or hound Portugal and has nothing to do with the matter, adding that she was speaking only for herself, dislikes controversy and has never liked being caught up in scandals. Salazar left another group, La Bella Luz, in January 2025, also citing her mental wellbeing and peace of mind.
Karen Peña says she was the one affected
Peña, known for the song "Me equivoqué," told the public not to believe everything they read and suggested she herself had been a victim of harassment from Portugal. She said everything has its limits, that things were not as they had been described and were actually the opposite of what had been said. She said she was speaking for herself because she was one of the people affected, and that not having spoken out before did not mean she did not want to defend herself. She added that she simply dislikes scandals, problems and gossip.
Peña said not everyone in Papillón can be friends and suggested the group had distanced itself from Portugal because of attitudes of hers they disliked. She said people stay close to those they feel comfortable with, and that one should not do to others what one would not want done to oneself. She added that if someone likes to bother others, they should accept the same in return, and that when it comes to actual harassment, things look completely different. Peña said she has evidence she could show but prefers not to.
Fiorella Castillo denies family involvement
Castillo, who became known as a Laura Pausini impersonator, denied that she or her family had harassed Portugal, as had been rumored on social media. She said that, as in any job, newcomers have to pay their dues, adding that they know things are totally different from how they have been portrayed and that they do not make a scandal out of minor issues.
