Spanish prosecutors investigate Julio Iglesias over sex assault claims
The singer allegedly assaulted two former employees at his homes in the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas.
Spanish prosecutors are studying allegations that singer Julio Iglesias sexually assaulted two former employees at his homes in the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas.
The Spanish prosecutors’ office told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the allegations were related to media reports from earlier this week that alleged Iglesias had sexually and physically assaulted two women who worked in his Caribbean residences between January and October 2021.
Iglesias has yet to speak publicly regarding the allegations. Russell L King, a Miami-based entertainment lawyer who lists Iglesias as a client on his website, did not immediately respond to a request for comment by the AP.
The Spanish prosecutors’ office that handles cases for Spain’s National Court said that it had received formal allegations against Iglesias by an unnamed party on January 5.
Iglesias could potentially be taken in front of the Madrid-based court, which can try alleged crimes by Spanish citizens while abroad, according to the court’s press office.
Spanish online newspaper elDiario.es and Spanish-language television channel Univision Noticias published the joint investigation into Iglesias’ alleged misconduct.
The 82-year-old is one of the world’s most successful musical artists after having sold more than 300 million records in more than a dozen languages.
After making his start in Spain, he won immense popularity in the United States and wider world in the 1970s and ’80s. He is the father of pop singer Enrique Iglesias.
Spanish government spokeswoman Elma Saiz said that the media reports regarding Iglesias “demanded respect”.
“Once again I can reaffirm this government’s firm and complete commitment to take on any act of violence, harassment or aggression against women,” Ms Saiz said on Tuesday after the media reports were published.
Panky Corcino, spokesman for the Attorney General’s Office in the Dominican Republic, declined to comment.
By law, any case in the Caribbean country that involves sexual aggression or violence must be investigated by prosecutors, even if no one has filed a complaint.
Iglesias won a 1988 Grammy for best Latin pop performance for his album Un Hombre Solo. He also received a lifetime achievement award at the Grammys in 2019.
Spain’s culture minister said on Wednesday that its left-wing government, which holds women’s rights and equality among its priorities, will consider stripping Iglesias of the state’s Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts that he was awarded in 2010.
“It is something we are studying and evaluating, because evidently we feel obliged to do so when faced by such a serious case,” culture minister Ernest Urtusan said.
