Popular Latino radio host Eddie "Piolín" Sotelo, who hosted the successful morning show, "Piolín por la Mañana", until it was abruptly terminated last week by parent company Univision, has been accused sexual harassment by a member of the production team, according to Sotelo's lawyer, Jeffrey Spitz.
Alberto "Beto" Cortez who filed the complaint, says Sotelo actively molested him and touched him without his consent. A letter addressed to Univision executives on April 16 was presented as proof by Attorney Robert R. Clayton, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The letter also includes other accusations against Sotelo, including one in which Cortez claims that he was forced to forge letters sent to Washington lawmakers in support of immigration reform, as well as being forced to keep "unrealistic" time schedules in which Cortez had no resting breaks or compensation.
"I have spoken with former employees who witnessed much of the bullying that is described here," Clayton wrote in a letter. "They too have been subjected to illegal harassment by Sotelo and have heard of the threats and the consequences of those employees who dared speak out against him."
Sotelo's lawyer, Jeffrey Spitz, maintains that all the accusations are absolutely false and that the accusors are trying to gain financial compensation from his client.
"The sexual harassment and falsification charges are absolute fiction and these people only seek financial compensation," Spitz wrote in a statement released to the media.
"Piolin En La Mañana" had been on air for over a decade until it was abruptly canceled last week. Sotelo gained some noterity when he urged supporters of immigration reform to take the streets in protest.
Univision has yet to release an official statement on the reasons why the show was cancelled and Univision spokeswoman Mónica Talán did not speak on the subject when asked about it.
Sotelo was recently chosen as an inductee for the Radio Hall of Fame. The host has been known through out his career for his pranks and humorous hosting style. He has become one of the most important Latino radio hosts and as such he recently interviewed President Barack Obama on the subject of immigration on his radio program.
Piolin used to share his experience as an immigrant in the US frequently with his listeners and spoke of how he worked illegally during his teen age years until he finally became a citizen years ago.