MCU’s Namor actor Tenoch Huerta from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is facing backlash since Mexican saxophonist & activist Maria Elena Rios accused him of sexual assault. The bombshell accusation has the Marvel fanbase calling for Namor’s recasting and for Marvel Studios to fire the actor, similar to reactions that followed over Jonathan Majors controversy.
First Jonathan Major’s Kang and now Tenoch Huerta’s Namor – that summarizes many MCU fans’ current thought process since news emerged that the Black Panther 2 star was accused of sexual assault. However, a large amount of Marvel fans have instead directed their concern toward the victim Maria Elena Rios and are also stressing the future of the Talocan King in MCU should not be the main discussion at the moment.
As reported by LA Times, the activist has claimed he sexually assaulted her and neither Huerta’s rep nor Marvel Studios have responded to their comment as of this writing. Through a number of tweets, Rios blasted Tenoch Huerta calling him a “sexual predator” (according to a tweet translated from Spanish) while also disassociating herself from Poder Prieto – an organization that fights against racism in which the Namor actor is a spokesperson. Rios also claimed that Poder Prieto shared her podcast episode sans her consent.
“I made it very clear to them when I left their sect that they protect the violator and sexual PREDATOR of Tenoch Huerta that they not publish anything about me. They still went to look for me at a hypocritical ball concert to avoid scandals over their Marvel movie.”
Rios went into detail about why she chose not to speak early on by stating the “abuse of power” of a person “who is loved for playing a character in a movie”. Aside from Rios’ claim – some fans on the internet have also brought up an old questionable tweet by Huerta. Readers can check it out below.
First Kang now Namor Disney is literally falling apart right in front of us pic.twitter.com/YVt8tKMzIO
— Drip Marvel Movies (@CBNMovies) June 11, 2023
"not namor too" "what's gonna happen to mcu movies now?" WHO GIVES A FUCK https://t.co/IreAWnaQEI
— hunter ʚɞ barbieheimer daughter (@CILLIANLOML) June 11, 2023
everyone in the quotes asking how this affects namors future in the mcupic.twitter.com/c5DBnVM6Jw https://t.co/XhtnJ0Un0V
— . (@up2anth) June 11, 2023
This is horrible. I hope María is doing ok. 🙏 https://t.co/iSFmgEKMqx
— Josh-Parker (@WebHeaded_Josh) June 11, 2023
I guess Namor is gonna be Nomore 😩 https://t.co/tw6a2HvcMj
— Plathanos 🐝 🇩🇴 (@SavinTheBees) June 12, 2023
Seriously … WTF?! Why is being a sexual predator so damn common? I just don’t understand it.
Is it some deep, rooted psychological issue? Were these people never taught to keep their hands to themselves?
Y’all really need to learn consent. https://t.co/Lff8ocTm87
— Jesabel (@JesabelRaay) June 11, 2023
// sa
–María Elena Ríos is a recognized survivor of attempted feminicide with acid in Mexico, she fought her life for laws that punished the violence against women in my country, so I ask everyone to take the accusations against Tenoch Huerta very seriously.
— leri 🌈 FINALS (@valmorcel) June 11, 2023
first Kang and now Namor? https://t.co/GEXpwUf6jp pic.twitter.com/XAwgGIJ0Dm
— jʕ•̫͡•ʔ (@_jboiii) June 11, 2023
Oh damn, we're not getting any more Namor shit either. Fuck https://t.co/C8dbuo9azO
— Poe's Law, Esq: Poe's Lawyer (@dyingscribe) June 12, 2023
Before you guys think about the future of Namor think of what María is going through right now https://t.co/NcW28Z75NG
— Allison the disney diva (@Daviesallison1A) June 11, 2023
Marvel’s gotta get it together with these background checks, man. First Jonathan Majors, now Namor ;-; https://t.co/92eWn6zFrd pic.twitter.com/1wCD3fDIdS
— Max (@wheelersalad) June 11, 2023
If you’re first thoughts when someone comes out with SA against someone, is to be thirsting over said assaulter, then you’re a genuinely despicable human being. Also asking how “it will affect the mcu” is also horrible. https://t.co/wYhCoD4Lg3 pic.twitter.com/CcJyOlw97K
— Aidan BLM. (@jokergatack) June 11, 2023
some of tenoch huerta’s old tweets are resurfacing and 🥴
men are so vile. give them an ounce of power/access and they’ll be predatory every time. endless solidarity with maría ríos, his survivor.
also? anyone i see making this about “the future of the mcu” is getting blocked. https://t.co/zsFNCdkWCe pic.twitter.com/QEUNkB1pNB
— anna maría (@onlyannamaria) June 11, 2023
some mexican feminists were talking about his misogyny when the movie came out so i’m not surprised https://t.co/RyIfxXCZAO
— Héloïse (@belivetsgloves) June 11, 2023
Meanwhile, Marvel Studios is yet to address the situation with Majors though a report from May indicated that Disney was restricting the mention of Kang/Jonathan Majors in their promotional material. It remains to be seen if the studio will have a response after the release of Loki season 2 which features Kang as the main antagonist. Tenoch Huerta’s case is currently a developing story, so readers are advised to stay tuned for more updates.
