Mexican superstar Gloria Trevi delivered a passionate speech about the MeToo Movement at Thursday night's Latin American Music Awards, revealing painful details of her past with a former producer that ultimately led to a stint in prison.
Trevi served as co-host of the award show along with Aracely Arambula, Becky G, Leslie Grace and Roselyn Sanchez. She also premiered a new song, prefacing her performance by telling the audience about the unfortunate experiences she's endured over the years.
In the '90s, Trevi and Sergio Andrade, her producer and mentor at the time, were accused of corrupting and abusing minors. She served four years in prison in connection to the scandal until her conviction was overturned in 2004.
“Those who don’t know me and thus, don’t like me, have probably heard millions of stories about me, among them, that I was in jail,” Trevi told the audience. “Yes. It took the Mexican justice system four years, eight months and eight days to realize I was innocent. I was a smokescreen for the deaths in the city of Juárez, by condemning one woman you can conceal the crimes of others."
In her speech, Trevi addressed her relationship with Andrade, who the "Me Lloras" singer had at one time been romantically involved with. She also denied being his partner in crime.
Trevi explained she was only 15 years old when she met him and believed she needed him if she ever wanted to have a successful career. Slowly he began to manipulate her, she said, and accused him of beating and insulting her over a 17-year period.
“He was not my creator and he did not discover me because with or without him I have proven I am Gloria Trevi,” she said to a roaring applause as audience members stood up.
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Trevi explained she is only one of the many women Andrade took advantage of, noting her oppresser is free and likely still hurting other women. She said that is because women who speak out against their abusers are often chastised instead of punishing the oppresser and called for an end to victim shaming.
The Mexican popstar finished her moving speech by saying:
“There are still people who discriminate me because they are ignorant. This has to end. I’m not saying this for of me, I am fine. This has to end for them, so there is a not a single woman in the world, who after facing her abuser, has to walk down the street being signaled by some idiot who accuses her of being a partner of her worst nightmare. Tonight I expose my life for them, because I am them,” she said.
Following her emotional speech, Trevi performed the equally emotional song, "Ella Soy Yo" (I am her).
Trevi began her career the late ‘80s. Widely known as the "Mexican Madonna," Trevi's big hair, leather vests, ragged tights and provocative attitudede made her seem unstoppable. She sold 20 million records, starred in three hit films, and packed arenas worldwide in her 30-year career. Seen as sex symbol, her pin-up calendars sold millions.
In the late ‘90s, however, her career was tainted with scandals. She was accused in 1997 of helping Andrade brainwash young aspiring girls to turn them into sex slaves. Trevi was detained in 2000 while she was living in Brazil and spent three years in a Rio de Janeiro jail without being legally prosecuted. In 2002, she was extradited to Mexico where she was convicted of kidnapping and abuse of minors. She was released on Sept. 21, 2004 due to lack of evidence.
