One of Mexico’s most beloved pop singers Gloria Trevi has once again been accused of “grooming” and exploiting underage girls in the early 1990s for the benefit of her ex-producer Sergio Andrade.
Two Jane Does have alleged that Trevi, now 54, and Andrade used their “role, status, and power” to initiate sexual contact with them over several years when they were just 13 and 15 years old respectively, with much of the abuse happening in Los Angeles County. The filing introduces the two Jane Does as “survivors of childhood sexual abuse, sexual battery, assault, molestation, and abuse” at the hands of the defendants and states that they’ve suffered “substantial emotional distress, anxiety, nervousness, anger and fear” as a result of the abuse.
The 30-page lawsuit, a civil case viewed by PvNew, and originally reported on Wednesday by Rolling Stone, was filed in Los Angeles on Dec. 30. The filings do not exclusively use Trevi or Andrade’s names, and instead anonymously identify them as Jane Doe defendants, but their participation is obvious based on the descriptions and the matching chronology of tours and album releases: Trevi is described as a “famous and popular pop star, and one of the most highly compensated female artists in Latin America” and Andrade is described as “one of the most successful music producers in Mexico.”
Trevi addressed the allegations in an Instagram post on Thursday night, writing:
“My words are directed to everyone who may have seen recent allegations about me but does not know the background and my story. Being a victim of physical and sexual abuse is one of the worst things that can happen to a human being, I say it and I know it because I am a survivor. And my thoughts go out to anyone who, like me, has ever been the victim of any kind of abuse.
But I will not remain silent while I am unfairly accused of crimes I did not commit. These false accusations, which were first made against me more than 25 years ago, have been tried in various courts and, in all instances, I have been completely and totally acquitted. For these old, disproven claims to resurface now is tremendously painful for me and for all my family. The accusations were false when they were made and remain false today.
A trial court carefully examined all the evidence during a judicial process which lasted almost 5 years, and they ruled in my favor. That verdict was upheld on appeal. That is why I filed a lawsuit in the United States to expose and hold all of those who are trying to defame me accountable.
I ask you to look beyond the absurd tabloid headlines to understand the facts. I will continue to move forward and work to get justice in this case – and I will do so knowing that the truth is on my side.”
The filing narrowly met the deadline for California’s Child Victims Act, which temporarily suspended the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims for three years.
Trevi and Andrade were first accused of corrupting and abusing minors in the ’90s and in January of 2000, the pair, along with backup singer María Raquenel Portillo, were arrested for their connection to an alleged cult-like sex ring. The arrests were based on charges from former vocalist Karina Yapor who claimed she was forced to have sexual relations with Andrade.
Trevi served four years in a Chihuahua prison but was eventually acquitted of those charges in 2004 and continued with her career, releasing chart-topping albums and putting on arena shows. In 2018, she gave an emotive speech at the Latin American Music Awards where she explained that she was just 15 when Andrade, who she didn’t identify by name, pulled her into a world of abuse and manipulation.
The complaint calls for a trial by jury and damages with the amount to be decided at the time of trial. Trevi is scheduled to play three shows at the end of January in Mexico City.
