In December 2024 The country research published on Edward Cortés and the accusations of sexual abuse he had received until 27 women. Cortés, known for series such as Merli And Not one moreallegedly took advantage of his power in the Spanish film industry to offer work to these women in his productions. The condition was that after their initial efforts failed, they would record themselves naked, masturbating or engaging in other types of sexual practices. He set these conditions as “project requirements”.
The country accepted conversations that will from 2007 to 2024with up to two minors among the victims. About twenty women had organized to file suit against Cortés, benefiting from legal advice but ruling out the possibility of suing the director due to the high economic costs. They then turned to a victim support service. Catalan Film Academyof which Cortés was a member (but who left shortly after). The investigation was finally released as Cortés finished filming Terre Haute.
This series of MovistarPlus+ adapts a novel by Javier Cercas with Miguel Bernardeu as the protagonist, and we have not heard from her since the report was published (which also did not result in legal action of any kind). The fact is that a year later, Terre Haute was released discreetly on Movistar Plus+. The platform decided to make the series public, with virtually no promotion and instantly triggering the anger of the women who accused Cortés.
So right now, they are encouraging a boycott of the series, published this December 4via social networks. Silvia Gravphotographer and first woman to speak publicly about Cortés’ harassment, posted a video on Instagram asking Movistar Plus+ to remove the series. “Movistar decided to stop it and now decided enough time had passed“, not even a year, and they just took it away,” says Grav. The photographer then encourages him 30,000 subscribers join the boycottsince they go into the official account of Terre Haute the message: “The director of this series abused more than 55 women.”
“For a victim to wake up in the morning and see this… you don’t have to be very smart to know the emotional impact that he has. If it is safer to remain silent, even if a wave of complaints breaks out, we wait nine months and in the end everything is fine… which producer or which person on the set will open their mouth? Person. There is no incentive for anyone,” Grav continues. “For all these people who talk about cancel culturelet these men not raise their heads…this man has spent his entire life mistreating people and there have been no repercussions for him.
Nicole Leonactress and another of the women who testified last year, joined the initiative. “This case cannot go unpunished. We will not allow it to become normalized or allow silence to protect it. Justice must be on our side. Boycott of the series and the director“Another actress, Nora Alexandra Vegawrote in a history from Instagram: “The series produced by unmentionable firsts. Boycott the bullies“.
What was the reaction of Movistar and Cortés? Well, even though the director didn’t make a statement, the company reached out The country. And, a priori, he doesn’t seem to have much intention of removing the series from the catalog. “Until the public complaint on social media, and after filming was completed, we were not aware of any accusations or confrontational actions on the part of the director.
“At all times we have acted with responsibility and transparency. We published a series in which hundreds of professionals participated, and We will closely monitor the development of the matter“.