Black Panther: Wakanda Forever star Tenoch Huerta has announced his withdrawal from Netflix’s upcoming film, Fiesta en la Madriguera, following an accusation of sexual assault from musician and activist María Elena Ríos. Huerta had previously denied these claims but has now decided to step down from the project due to the impact of the accusations.
In a statement shared with The Hollywood Reporter, Huerta expressed his sadness over the situation but emphasized that he cannot allow Ríos’ actions to harm not only him but also the hard-working people involved in the film. He stated that his focus now is to continue the process of restoring his reputation.
Fiesta en la Madriguera is being directed by filmmaker Manolo Caro, with Huerta announced as the film’s star last month. The film is currently being filmed in Guadalajara, Jalisco, and Katima Mulilo, Namibia, and is set for release in 2024. According to Netflix, the movie revolves around a boy named Tochtli, who has a fascination with hats, dictionaries, samurais, guillotines, and the French. His desire is to have a new animal for his private zoo, specifically a Namibian pygmy hippo. His father, Yolcaut, is willing to fulfill his every whim, even if it means obtaining an endangered exotic animal.
Earlier this month, Ríos publicly accused Huerta of being a sexual predator and claimed that he had assaulted her. She highlighted the difficulty of speaking out against someone widely loved for their role in a movie like Tenoch Huerta. In response, Huerta released a statement denying the allegations, asserting that they were false and lacked substantiation. He clarified that he and Ríos had a consensual relationship that lasted for several months.
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In his previous statement, Huerta described their relationship as loving, warm, and mutually supportive. However, after it ended, he claims that Ríos began misrepresenting their interactions to their mutual friends. As a result, Huerta engaged a legal team to protect his reputation and refute the false accusations that could cause significant harm.
While acknowledging his imperfections, Huerta strongly stated that the allegations against him were untrue and offensive. He expressed his commitment to self-improvement but also emphasized the importance of contesting claims that lacked credibility and could damage his reputation.
Tenoch Huerta gained recognition for his portrayal of Namor in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, released in 2021. He has also appeared in other notable projects such as Netflix’s Narcos: Mexico and The Forever Purge. Although Marvel has not announced future plans for Huerta’s character, the film strongly hinted at his return, and it is common for Marvel actors to participate in multiple projects.
The accusations against Tenoch Huerta have had a significant impact on his career and reputation. As he continues to address these allegations and work towards restoring his name, it remains to be seen how this situation will ultimately affect his future projects and public perception.
