• by Erik Sass  @eriksass1, July 30, 2013

Eddie Sotelo -- who was one of the most popular Spanish-language radio hosts in the U.S. until his show “Piolín por la Mañana” was suddenly canceled by Univision last week -- has been accused of sexual harassment by one of his colleagues, according to the Los Angeles Times, citing a letter from the victim’s lawyer to Univision execs.
 
In the letter, Alberto “Beto” Cortez, who was a writer, producer, and performer on “Piolín,” accuses Sotelo of “physically, sexually and emotionally harassing” him over a three-year period. According to Cortez, Sotelo grabbed his buttocks and genitals, taunted him at meetings and insinuated that he was a homosexual, often in front of witnesses who were subjected to similar treatment -- then threatened retaliation against anyone who reported the harassment.
 
Cortez also alleges that Sotelo falsified letters in support of immigration reform, which Sotelo publicly advocated on his show. Regarding the harassment, the letter claims that Univision turned a “blind eye” to Sotelo’s transgressions because of his popularity and high ratings.
 
Sotelo’s attorney, Jeffrey Spitz, dismissed the claims as part of a shakedown attempt aiming for a financial settlement.
 
In addition to its home station of KCSA-FM in Los Angeles, “Piolín por la Mañana” (“Tweetie Bird in the Morning”) aired in over 50 big Hispanic markets across the U.S. on Univision stations and via syndication. It won an audience of around 3.5 million listeners with Sotelo’s mix of zany humor, satirical sketches, and Mexican regional music.

However, ratings had slumped in some key markets, including Los Angeles, where Piolín was recently overtaken by "El Mandril,” hosted by Ricardo Sanchez, also mixing humor with regional Mexican music.

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