Peruvian singer Alisson Tello supported Naldy Saldaña after Saldaña publicly accused orchestra director César Sánchez Chavesta of improper touching in a national television broadcast.
Tello, a former lead vocalist of the Peruvian cumbia group La Bella Luz, shared a statement on her Facebook story on Tuesday, August 4, expressing solidarity with Saldaña and hinting that her own departure from the orchestra in October 2023 was forced by harassment.
Writing from her own experience, Tello stated that silence often does not mean nothing happened. She explained that remaining silent can reflect fear, the necessity of preserving a job, or simply lacking the strength to speak out.
Tello noted that situations of harassment force some individuals to leave quietly, whereas others eventually find the courage to speak up. Although she had previously attributed her October 2023 resignation to personal reasons, her latest message indicated she was forced to leave due to circumstances beyond her control.
She thanked Saldaña for speaking out not only for herself but also on behalf of many others who were unable to do so at the time. Tello added that she hoped the truth would prevail and that divine justice would arrive in time.
Allegations broadcast on national television
Saldaña brought the allegations to light during an appearance on television host Magaly Medina's entertainment program, presenting evidence of improper touching by Sánchez Chavesta. Sánchez Chavesta had served as director of La Bella Luz until Tuesday, August 4, when he was dismissed from his post following the public release of the footage.
Sánchez Chavesta is the cousin of Óscar Custodio Chavesta, the owner of La Bella Luz. The musical group is one of the most prominent ensembles in Peruvian cumbia, a popular genre of Latin tropical music that maintains a massive fan base across South America.
Saldaña previously sang with the widely popular northern cumbia group Corazón Serrano before joining La Bella Luz. Tello rose to national prominence while performing as a lead vocalist for La Bella Luz, including a notable performance alongside Peruvian professional footballer Christian Cueva. Tello had also recently reunited with her former bandmates weeks prior to posting her statement.
Peruvian music industry condemns director
The allegations sparked widespread outrage across social media and the Peruvian music industry. Fellow singers, musical groups, and former vocalists who previously resigned from La Bella Luz united to demand justice for Saldaña, with several former members declaring that the former director deserves prison time.
Prominent Peruvian musical acts, including Marisol, Caribeños, Dayan Flor, and Amor Rebelde, publicly condemned the improper touching. Social media users also targeted La Bella Luz with criticism following an official statement from the group, with observers raising questions regarding potential silence or cover-ups within the organisation.
As public pressure builds across the Peruvian entertainment industry, fellow artists and fans continue to demand legal accountability and justice for Saldaña following the dismissal of Sánchez Chavesta.
