Victoria Canal shares abuse allegations; social media users link claims to a barefoot peace activist-musician and compare him to Trump

Singer-songwriter Victoria Canal has alleged on Instagram that she was subjected to sexual abuse and grooming by a “powerful, decades-older man” in the music industry. On her 27th birthday, she refrained from naming the person who abused her 8 years ago, but many of her followers identified musician Michael Franti in connection with her account.

In the wake of these revelations, several artists scheduled to perform on Soulshine at Sea, a Franti-led music cruise, have withdrawn.

Hirie, Tank and the Bangas, and Dispatch each announced their exit from the lineup. Hirie withdrew via Instagram after “troubling allegations” surfaced regarding “a key figure connected to the event.”


In another follow-up post, where she shared some of the comments about him, one user alleged in comments that the man had abused his girlfriend, describing him as ‘a master manipulator and user,’ and comparing him to Donald Trump. Canal herself has not endorsed or repeated this claim.

Later on August 18, Franti issued a statement acknowledging a romantic relationship outside his marriage but disputing the abuse claims. In an Instagram post, he wrote,

“I’m aware of the recent posts this artist made about our relationship, and while I support her need to express herself publicly, the relationship was completely consensual, based on mutual feelings and attraction,”.

And then denied any wrongdoing, “I vehemently dispute any version of the story that says otherwise.”

The allegations

The Spanish singer-songwriter, Canal, shared a post recounting her experience, writing that the man discovered her when she was 19, invited her to her first professional opportunity, and later caused her lasting emotional trauma.

She declined to name the alleged perpetrator, citing fears of legal and financial repercussions.

Commenters on her post and subsequent online discussions speculated about Michael Franti. Canal has neither confirmed nor denied any name.

As first reported by Primetimer, a now-removed 2018 post from Franti’s website stated that he had discovered Canal through Instagram and invited her to Nashville to collaborate.

According to the post retrieved by primetime, Franti wrote, “A few months ago I discovered a new artist on Instagram named Victoria Canal. She’s a 19-year-old singer/songwriter, pianist, guitarist and ukulele player who lives in NYC.”

The two went on to co-write The Flower, and Franti brought her onstage to open for his band’s show at Red Rocks Amphitheatre that year.

Who is Michael Franti?

Michael Franti, 59, is best known as the frontman and founder of the band Michael Franti & Spearhead, which blends hip-hop, reggae, folk, rock, and funk. Born in Oakland, California, Franti first rose to prominence in the late 1980s with the industrial-punk band The Beatnigs and later with the politically charged hip-hop group Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy.

By the 1990s, Franti had formed Spearhead, where he gained recognition for socially conscious lyrics and genre-crossing sounds.

Franti is also recognized for his unusual personal choice of going barefoot since 2000, a decision he says connects him more closely to people and the earth. Beyond music, he advocates veganism, climate action, and grassroots activism.

In 2005, he directed the documentary I Know I’m Not Alone, chronicling his travels through Iraq, Israel, and the Palestinian territories.

The film focused not on political leaders, but on the voices of ordinary people, doctors, musicians, and families, living amid conflict. Franti later argued that poverty, more than religion, was the root cause of tensions in Gaza.

A longtime peace advocate, he has received awards for his human rights work and shown his films in political forums, including the Australian Parliament.