How to Get Away with Murder star Karla Souza came forward on Tuesday alleging that she experienced sexual harassment and assault early in her career. The actress told CNN en Español that a director raped her while they were filming in her native Mexico. Although Souza didn’t identify her assailant, producer-director Gustavo Loza was terminated from Mexico’s largest television network Televisa a day later, and has asked the actress to clear his name.
The network released a statement Wednesday Feb.21 announcing that Loza was no longer an employee of the company, breaking all ties with the director and canceling all of his projects. “In the face of public accusations about the sexual abuse of actress Karla Souza, and after a preliminary investigation, Televisa has decided to immediately break off all relations with Mr. Gustavo Loza,” the statement read.
That same day, Loza defended himself on Twitter, writing: “I distance myself from any accusation against me by Televisa and Denise Maerker, who today have accused me without foundation regarding the case of the alleged violation denounced by Karla Souza, which I lament profoundly and openly condemn.”
Me deslindo de toda acusación en mi contra por parte de @NTelevisa_com y de @DeniseMaerker quienes el día de hoy me han acusado sin fundamento referente al caso de la presunta violación denunciada por @KarlaSouza7 lo cual lamento profundamente y condeno abiertamente.
— Gustavo Loza (@gusloza) February 21, 2018
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In an interview Loza did with CNN en Español after Souza’s allegations and Televisa’s announcement, he claims that he tried contacting the actress for clarity. Loza also said the two had a consensual relationship but once it ended, they remained friends and worked together professionally.
Souza has not spoken out since the interview, but wrote via Twitter: “I am proud to stand in solidarity with my sisters in Mexico and women around the world whose voices are finally being heard and saying #TIMESUP.”
I am proud to stand in solidarity with my sisters in Mexico and women around the world whose voices are finally being heard and saying #TIMESUP.
— Karla Souza (@KarlaSouza7) February 21, 2018
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Souza’s representative did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
In her harrowing account on CNN en Español, the Mexico-born actress shared the details of being sexually assaulted after a director demonstrated an “abuse of power.” Wiping away tears, she said: “I ended up giving in to him. kiss me, to touch me in ways I did not want him to touch me and in one of those instances, he attacked me violently and yes, he raped me.”
Souza joins a growing number of men and women who have spoken out about their experiences with sexual harassment and assault in Hollywood, following several allegations of sexual misconduct and rape directed at powerhouse producer Harvey Weinstein.