Wakanda Forever star Tenoch Huerta faces sexual assault allegations, adding to the list of Marvel’s growing troubles

Marvel Studios finds itself in the midst of a crisis as serious accusations of sexual assault have emerged against actor Tenoch Huerta. This controversy comes just months after another MCU star, Jonathan Majors, faced assault charges, further plunging the studio into controversy. 

Mexican musician María Elena Rios has accused the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever star, of sexual assault. Ríos, a saxophonist and activist, referred to Huerta as a "sexual predator" in a series of tweets where she detailed the alleged assault. 

Es muy difícil hablar del abuso emocional y abuso de poder de un depredador sexual que es amado en el mundo por interpretar a un personaje de una película como @TenochHuerta

En apariencia encantador, la gran característica de un narcisista + una buena porción de victimización.

— •𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐚 𝐑í𝐨𝐬 🎷 (@_ElenaRios) June 11, 2023

The allegations made by musician Maria Elena Ríos against Huerta have sent shockwaves through the industry and raised important questions about accountability and the treatment of victims within the entertainment world.

“¿Y por qué no denunciaste?”

Dicen los que viven en un país machista, donde la justicia es inalcanzable donde casi te matan y ni aún así te creen ni llega la justicia.

• Y no, no quiero ser famosa.
• Y no, no quiero dinero porque sé trabajar.

— •𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐚 𝐑í𝐨𝐬 🎷 (@_ElenaRios) June 11, 2023

The allegations emerged after an activist organization in Mexico, Poder Prieto, shared a podcast episode featuring Rios without her consent. Huerta is a spokesperson for Poder Prieto, a collective focused on combating racism in the entertainment industry. 

Rios, who was a former member of the organization, accused Poder Prieto of sharing the podcast episode without her consent, as well as of exploiting her by not compensating her for her work. Rios also accused Poder Prieto of not compensating her for her work and of defending Huerta despite claiming to be anti-racist.

Les dejé muy claro a mi salida de su secta que protege al violentador y DEPREDADOR sexual de @TenochHuerta que no publicaran nada de mí. Todavía fueron a buscarme a un concierto bola de hipócritas para evitar escándalos por su película de @MarvelLATAM.

No ando jugando @LaMZapata https://t.co/3wf1ofyFx1

— •𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐚 𝐑í𝐨𝐬 🎷 (@_ElenaRios) June 10, 2023

In addition to the allegations against Huerta, Rios accused Poder Prieto of being a community that claims to be anti-racist while engaging in violent behavior behind closed doors and defending Huerta's actions. Poder Prieto responded by stating that they did not produce the podcast episode but merely recommended it along with other content. The collective did not address Ríos's comments about Huerta directly.

Esperamos el derecho de réplica.
Se nos acusa de no haberle pagado por este podcast. No le podemos pagar algo que NO es producción nuestra. Y no lo publicamos, solo se recomendó ese contenido como recomendamos contenido casi todos los días... https://t.co/sTM3tdO8rV

— Poder Prieto (@poderprieto_mx) June 10, 2023

Huerta has not responded publicly to the allegations made by Rios. This incident follows the domestic assault accusations against another Marvel star, Jonathan Majors, in March.

ALSO READ: Actor Jonathan Majors dropped from multiple projects following domestic assault charges

These allegations have put Marvel Studios in a difficult position, as they now face the challenge of addressing serious accusations against two of their actors in a short span of time. Majors, who had been set up in a major role as Kang the Conqueror in the MCU, was arrested and accused of assault earlier this year, adding to the growing concern about the studio's ability to vet and support their talent adequately. 

Both Huerta and Majors hold key roles within the MCU, making these allegations particularly impactful. Huerta's portrayal of Namor, an important character in Wakanda Forever, received acclaim for its representation of darker-skinned, Indigenous people. The significance of having a superhero with an Indigenous background is undeniable, making the allegations against Huerta all the more troubling.

The reputational damage caused by the controversies is significant and could impact the perception of Marvel Studios and its commitment to fostering a safe and inclusive work environment.

In light of these allegations, Marvel Studios must take decisive action to address the situation appropriately. The studio has a responsibility to thoroughly investigate the accusations, support the alleged victims, and ensure a safe working environment for all cast and crew members. Transparent communication with the public is crucial during this crisis to maintain trust and integrity.

ALSO READ: History of abuse surfaces against Jonathan Majors amid assault allegations, puts MCU in jeapordy

While Marvel head-honcho Kevin Feige finds the studio embroiled in a crisis, the allegations made by Rios have raised concerns about the treatment of victims within the entertainment industry and have put the studio's reputation at stake. 

Will Namor be no more? It seems like a critical moment for the studio to demonstrate its commitment to take a strong stance against any form of misconduct or abuse.