Spanish-American singer Victoria Canal has accused a “very powerful” man in the music industry of sexually abusing and grooming her eight years ago.
Canal shared the shocking allegations in a lengthy Instagram post.
“This is something I’ve never spoken about publicly, and have been holding for 8 years now – it has plagued my body, spirit, and mind, in subliminal and overt ways, for my entire 20s,” Canal began on Aug. 11.
“It was only earlier this year, when I was assaulted by a stranger in a rehearsal space, that something in my subconscious awoke (including many buried memories) and helped me start to understand the effects of what happened to me,” the “June Baby” singer continued.
“Today, on my 27th birthday, I am choosing my own freedom by sharing this with you all,” Canal added. “I am letting it out, to be able to let it go. This decision feels so right in my body.”
Canal, who was born without the lower half of her right arm, alleged that a “very powerful” and “decades-older man” took advantage of her when she was just 19.
Although she would not mention her alleged abuser by name out of fear of retaliation, the pop star described him as someone who appears to be a “loving, charismatic and principled” family man with a “very active career.”
“However, behind closed doors, this person has a history of incredibly damaging behavior across the board, and has a team of enablers around him who have fiercely protected his image, perpetuating this behavior for decades,” the “Cake” singer wrote.
After taking Canal under his wing, the alleged perpetrator purportedly began to touch and take pictures of the pop star without her consent.
“These behaviors progressed over a year, slowly keeping me more isolated in a highly unfamiliar and contained environment,” Canal alleged further. “At the time, this person made me believe that if I ever told anyone what he was doing, my career would be over before it started.”
Following “a little over a year” of the alleged sexual abuse and grooming, Canal’s purported abuser “verbally admitted” that getting her “in this position had been his plan all along.”
Although Canal admitted that her world “ruptured,” and it has been a “long and evolving journey in reclaiming my emotional and spiritual health,” she shared that therapy, psychedelic treatment, talking with other men and women, and making art have helped her recover.
Canal, who has been professionally linked to Coldplay’s Chris Martin in recent years, also clarified that her alleged abuser was “not among the mentors who have championed me since I got signed to a major label in 2022.”
“These men have actually been a healing force in my life in being able to understand that not all people in positions of power abuse it,” the “California Sober” singer wrote. “These mentors have, among others, shown me that healthy mentorship does exist, there are men that wholly want to help, and I am so eternally grateful for that lesson.”
“Please don’t entangle those people with this person,” Canal added.
The Post has reached out to Canal’s rep for comment.
