Last week it was reported that Eddie “Piolin” Sotelo‘s radio show “Piolin Por La Manana” on Univision was canceled. Now there are allegations to why after 10 years the show got the ax.
Alberto “Beto” Cortez – a writer, producer and performer on the radio show is accusing Piolin of physical, sexual and emotional harassment over a 3 year period.
Cortez claimed that Sotelo repeatedly made aggressive and unwanted sexual advances, including grabbing Cortez’s buttocks and genitals when Cortez would arrive at work in the morning at the Glendale studio. In a letter to Piolin’s bosses at Univision written in April, Cortez made several allegations and asked them to reach a settlement with the accuser or a lawsuit would be filed.
Piolin’s attorney denied the allegations and, in a statement, said: “A disgruntled, troubled employee has made malicious and false claims about Eddie Sotelo. This was done as part of a demand for money…. The employee worked with Eddie for more than a decade. The employee’s allegations of harassment and falsification of immigration letters are pure fiction intended to gain a financial settlement.”
In addition to the claim of sexual harassment, Cortez alleged that Sotelo who supported immigration reform, ordered members of his radio production team to falsify letters and made Cortez copy other letters to make it appear as if they had received a million letters.
“I have also spoken to former employees of the show who witnessed much of the harassment described herein,” wrote Cortez’s attorney Robert R. Clayton in his letter to the Univision executives. “They too have either been subjected to or heard of Sotelo’s misconduct, threats, and the retaliation he has taken against employees who have spoken out against him.”
Clayton’s letter also added: “Because Sotelo was the cash-cow at Univision (rated number one in multiple markets and with the highest ad revenues), Univision turned a blind eye to Sotelo’s inappropriate and unlawful conduct. In doing so, Univision violated the company’s own written employment policies.”
Sotelo’s program aired on 50 stations across the country, including locally on KSCA-FM (101.9), and at one time was the region’s No. 1-rated morning program in any language. In November, he is scheduled to be inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame.
