Peruvian singer and television host Michelle Soifer accused fellow singer Leslie Shaw of being an empty woman who picks fights to draw attention to her music career, during an extensive interview with journalist Andrea Llosa.
The comments came in an interview that also touched on other personal matters. Soifer used the conversation to deny reports that she has a hidden son and to describe an assault she says she suffered at the hands of her former partner, Kevin Blow.
Llosa asked Soifer directly what had happened between her and Shaw. Soifer said she initially could not understand why Shaw had started attacking her, since the two had always gotten along.
How the feud began
Thinking back on it, Soifer said she believed the tension began after she started working with Augusto Manzanares, a highly successful Peruvian fashion designer who had also worked with Shaw. Soifer, known for the song "Bombón asesino," said Shaw did not like that she had worked with him.
Soifer said she initially assumed Shaw's remarks were part of a show, but Shaw kept making disparaging comments about her. Speaking on the podcast "La capilla," Soifer said some artists enjoy stirring up scandal to promote a song, and that Shaw did not understand the investment and work an entire team puts into a project.
Soifer criticizes Shaw's music
Just as Shaw has questioned her talent, Soifer said she has also criticized Shaw's career. She said she honestly does not like Shaw as an artist, while acknowledging what Shaw has achieved, including recording with international artists and building a long career. Soifer said she was not making the comment out of spite.
Soifer said she has never publicly questioned Shaw's career because both already have enough to deal with from social media critics. She said controversy works for Shaw in a way it does not for her, describing how Shaw would release a song and then pick a fight with someone just to get people to listen to it.
Soifer also recalled that when the two appeared together on the reality competition show "Esto es guerra," Shaw ignored her throughout rehearsals and did not even greet other people on set.
'She is an empty woman'
Soifer said she would not excuse Shaw's behavior, since Shaw knows exactly what she is doing, but that she believes there is an emptiness behind it. She said Shaw craves attention and, despite being talented, needs to create scandals and pick fights so people notice her.
Soifer said Shaw is not a bad artist, just not to her personal taste, adding that Shaw is good at what she does.
Who are Michelle Soifer and Leslie Shaw
Soifer rose to fame as a contestant on the Peruvian reality competition shows "Combate" and "Esto es guerra" before building a career as a singer and television host. She currently hosts the entertainment program "Arriba mi gente." Shaw is another well-known Peruvian singer, best recognized for her hit single "Faldita" and for collaborations with international artists. Llosa is a Peruvian journalist known for candid, tabloid-style celebrity interviews.
