Naldy Saldana, a former singer with the Peruvian cumbia band La Bella Luz, said the group's owners failed to back her after she reported alleged inappropriate touching by the band's musical director, Cesar Sanchez Chavesta.
Saldana, 26, said she told the owners, Oscar Custodio and his wife Pilar Torres, what had happened in the hope of receiving support. Instead, she said they asked her to stay calm and carry on, even though she told them she could not keep working in the same space as her alleged aggressor.
Saldana said she did not leave the group immediately. She stayed on for another month despite the situation, saying she never wanted to leave the orchestra and that was why she kept working there for a month longer, despite everything that had happened and despite not feeling supported.
Allegations against the musical director
Saldana publicly accused Sanchez Chavesta, La Bella Luz's musical director and a cousin of owners Custodio and Torres, of being responsible for the alleged inappropriate touching. She said she informed the band's owners of what was going on but said she never felt protected, since Sanchez Chavesta continued working within the orchestra, although he avoided approaching her after she made her complaint.
Saldana said she felt alone and could not bear to see him, and that nothing had changed. She said that was why she submitted her resignation to Custodio, explaining that she had spoken with him many times without anything being done, and that she was only told to stay calm and that she needed to get over it little by little. She appeared visibly affected as she spoke.
Support from other artists and bands
After Saldana's complaint and accompanying footage were broadcast on the television programme "Magaly TV, la firme," several entertainment figures and musical groups publicly voiced support for her and rejected any form of workplace violence or harassment. The production company Del Barrio Producciones also decided to suspend a project based on the band's story.
Among those who expressed support were fellow artists Papillon, Marisol, Rebeca Escribens and Janet Barboza, along with television host Magaly Medina. "Magaly TV, la firme" is a Peruvian entertainment programme known for investigative segments on celebrity and show-business scandals.
Medina questioned the apparent lack of action taken by those responsible for the band after learning of the complaint. Medina said on her programme that Saldana stated the complaint had also been made to the band's owner, who should undoubtedly have done something about it at the very least.
Owners informed but no action taken
Medina added that, according to the singer's account, the owners had been informed of the situation but that it had not led to any resolution. She said Saldana spoke with the owners but nothing came of it, and that this kind of harassment and inappropriate touching by someone in a workplace who also holds a position of authority within the musical group was something women could not be expected to accept.
