Shakira accuses tax office of manipulation and damaging her public image
Singer says she settled in tax fraud case to protect her children
Pop star Shakira has explained her side of her 2023 tax fraud case in a letter published in Spanish newspaper El Mundo on Wednesday.
The Colombian artist says that the Spanish tax agency was "more interested in damaging [her] public image than listening to [her] reasons," and that is why she has been brought to writing this letter now.
When Shakira reached a deal with Spain's public prosecutor and paid a fine to end the case, the singer decided to against getting involved in a trial "that is so time consuming."
In her letter, Shakira accuses the Spanish tax authority of "manipulating" the story and "criminalizing" her deliberately.
"In 2011 I started my relationship with Gerard Piqué, but I did not manifest any intent of moving to Catalonia that year, a narrative that the tax authority has made everyone believe," Shakira wrote.
Shakira also argues that there is a "sexist undertone” to the accusations and believes the situation would have been different if the genders were swapped.
She also explains that she did not make any money while she resided in Spain and gave 120 concerts in more than 90 countries: "Everything I earned during these years now belongs to Spain."
After she pleaded guilty, her plan was to focus on her two sons, so she had to "choose [her] battles, and the most important one is to focus on [her] children."
Now she is publishing this letter to show them she is "committed to the truth."