Peruvian cumbia vocalist Anely Dávila has published evidence on social media to deny accusations that she and bandmate Fernanda Urbina mocked former colleague Naldy Saldaña during a concert in the northern city of Tarapoto.
Dávila, a singer with the musical group La Bella Luz, posted video screenshots on Instagram showing that the playful gestures performed on stage were part of a regular performance routine rather than a taunt aimed at Saldaña.
The controversy began after concertgoers shared clips of Dávila and Urbina laughing and embracing on stage in Tarapoto, days after Saldaña filed a formal complaint for alleged indecent touching against the former director of La Bella Luz, César Sánchez Chavesta. Some online users interpreted the performance interactions as a direct mockery of the 26-year-old singer and her legal complaint.
In response to the backlash, Dávila shared a statement written by Urbina and added her own reaction, stating that she felt deep disgust toward current society over the accusations. She uploaded multiple video screenshots collected from fans to demonstrate that she and Urbina routinely hug and joke around during concerts.
Rejection of stage mockery allegations
Urbina also published a public message on her Instagram account to address the growing criticism. She categorically denied that either singer intended to ridicule Saldaña or diminish the seriousness of her legal complaint.
While rejecting the accusations, Urbina acknowledged that the timing of their stage routine was unfortunate given the ongoing legal case. She stated that she understood how audience members viewing an isolated video clip in the context of recent events could misinterpret the interaction. However, she emphasized that admitting the moment was ill-timed is entirely different from claiming they intended to make fun of Saldaña.
Ongoing investigations and band turmoil
The dispute comes amid heightened scrutiny surrounding the orchestra following Saldaña's legal complaint against former director Sánchez. Officials from Sunafil, the National Superintendency of Labor Inspection in Peru, recently conducted a workplace inspection at the group's facilities, during which the legal representative of La Bella Luz suffered a health breakdown.
In addition, several singers from La Bella Luz were spotted entering the premises of Depincri, the Department of Criminal Investigation, after being summoned by authorities to give formal statements regarding the allegations of sexual harassment and indecent touching.
The group has faced further public scrutiny following the leak of private chat messages suggesting an alleged infidelity involving Saldaña and the live host of La Bella Luz. The host addressed the allegations during a live broadcast, stating that he remains faithful to his partner and claiming that the leaked text messages were fabricated using artificial intelligence technology.
La Bella Luz is a prominent Peruvian cumbia orchestra known for songs such as Qué viva el amor, performed by Dávila. Popular musical groups in Peru frequently tour regional cities such as Tarapoto, performing live shows that draw large crowds and extensive media coverage.
