[Trigger Warning: Sexual Abuse]
On August 17, actor and spoken word artist Juan Miguel Severo was accused of harassment and rape by yet another person who claims to be a victim and who shared their story on X (formerly Twitter).
The victim, who was 16 at the time, alleged that on April 17, 2017, Severo, then 28, insisted on meeting her late at night after a performance in Kalibo, Aklan. Despite her initial reluctance and concerns about transportation, she agreed to meet him at his hotel after he promised a casual conversation about poetry.
Inside the hotel room, the victim claimed Severo made an unwanted advance, kissing her without consent after she felt pressured to comply. The accuser’s tweet included screenshots and emphasized frustration over Severo’s continued public presence without addressing the allegations. The situation has sparked significant discussion and calls for accountability.
The victim’s tweet expressed frustration with Severo’s continued public presence and perceived lack of accountability. This revelation has prompted significant discussion and calls for accountability, as Severo has yet to address the accusations publicly.
In case anyone forgot, Juan Miguel Severo is a sexual opportunist. I was one of his victims.
Today, I'm coming forward. He was 28 at that time, and I was 16.
With his recent desperate attempt to salvage his career, he cannot simply walk away freely from us, his victims. pic.twitter.com/gHELXZtW2V
— joum she/her (@joummlnsn) August 17, 2024
In the wake of the allegations against Juan Miguel Severo, a growing number of social media users are rallying to support the victim by calling for the artist’s cancellation and boycott. The campaign has gained momentum, with many expressing outrage over Severo’s actions and insisting he should not be allowed to maintain his public platform.
One user voiced their anger, tweeting, “Juan Miguel Severo harassed, raped, and took opportunity of many people I know and love. This worse-than-animal scum uses his platform to take advantage—to rape, to abuse. So, we must deprive him of that platform. He doesn’t deserve being on stage. He deserves to rot in hell.”
In a follow-up tweet, the victim explained her reason for speaking out now, stating, “I am sharing my story to remind the public that Juan Miguel Severo should not be given a platform that could further embolden him to take sexual advantage of others. As a community, we must ensure that sexual opportunists like him are held accountable for the crimes they commit.”
This is not the first time Severo has been involved in this kind of controversy. Back in 2021, Words Anonymous, the spoken word group he belonged to, cut ties with him as he was also accused of sexual harassment.
Severo has yet to publicly address these allegations. The situation continues to develop as more information and reactions emerge from the public and those involved.
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