Singer Naldy Saldaña left the stage and her job at the Peruvian cumbia band La Bella Luz after being the victim of improper touching by musical director César Sánchez Chavesta, and after failing to find support from the band's owners, Óscar Custodio Chavesta and Pilar Torres. A day after her complaint, amid a wave of criticism, La Bella Luz announced Sánchez Chavesta's departure from the group.
The band said in a statement published on Tuesday, August 4, that as an immediate and indefinite measure, and while the competent authorities carried out their investigation, it had decided to separate orchestra director César Sánchez Chavesta from his duties.
Saldaña's complaint
On Monday, August 3, Saldaña appeared on Magaly Medina's television program to reveal that she had been the victim of harassment and improper touching by La Bella Luz's musical director. She said that after the band failed to act, she decided to leave the group. Following her appearance, social media users began demanding that the band speak out and announce Sánchez Chavesta's expulsion.
Band's response
In its statement, La Bella Luz said it categorically rejected any act of violence, harassment or conduct that threatened people's dignity, integrity and wellbeing. The band expressed solidarity with Saldaña, said it deeply regretted what had happened, and said it hoped no one else would face similar situations, adding that it recognized the value of speaking out about such acts.
La Bella Luz said it would cooperate with police and judicial authorities and provide the facilities necessary to clarify the facts. It said that as a company and artistic organization, it was taking on the moment with deep responsibility and reaffirming its commitment to respect, integrity and building an environment free of all forms of violence.
Backlash on social media
Despite the statement, users criticized La Bella Luz for not acting sooner. Singer Shania Lazo wrote that the band had been too tepid, said it was shameful that everything had to be exposed publicly before they took action, and said the response did not match the "family" image the group had always tried to project. She voiced her full support for Saldaña.
Other Instagram commenters accused the owners of knowing about the situation and covering it up, and of telling the victim to get over it. One follower wrote that no one had the right to tell Saldaña she should already have moved past something they never experienced, and voiced support for her. Another wrote that people should stop following the orchestra and that La Bella Luz should disappear for covering up the act.
