Colombian singer Shakira has released a strongly worded letter condemning the Spanish Tax Agency’s handling of her legal battles, accusing the institution of sexism, manipulation, and creating a media spectacle at her expense. The letter, published on Wednesday by Spanish daily El Mundo, offers Shakira’s version of events, shedding light on the personal and financial toll this controversy has taken on her.
In 2023, Shakira admitted to a tax offense related to her residency in Spain between 2012 and 2014, resulting in a fine of over €7 million ($7.75 million). However, in her letter, the singer clarifies that this admission was not out of guilt but a strategic move to protect her children from the relentless scrutiny of a prolonged legal battle. She criticizes the Spanish Tax Agency for distorting her tax residency status and prioritizing public humiliation over a fair trial.
Shakira’s accusations extend beyond the legal process and she highlights what she perceives as “underlying sexist prejudices” in the agency’s approach, suggesting that had she been a man, the authorities may not have assumed her presence in Spain was intended for permanent settlement. This, she argues, is part of a broader pattern of sexism that persists in certain state bureaucracies, despite societal progress.
The letter also paints a vivid picture of Shakira’s life under siege from the media. During a tumultuous period that included her high-profile divorce from Barcelona footballer Gerard Piqué, she was subjected to intense public scrutiny. She believes that the Tax Agency leveraged this media frenzy to construct a narrative of her as a tax evader, despite her assertion that she had fulfilled her obligations in other countries and that her finances had been approved by other European Union jurisdictions.
“From the beginning I knew that the fabricated story of the Tax Agency confused and manipulated two completely different intentions: One was the desire to settle in a country, and the other, very different, was the desire for a relationship to flourish in that country. They conflated the two to turn me into a tax resident since 2011, and create obligations that didn’t exist,” she concluded.
The “Hips Don’t Lie” singer reflects on her “Spanish decade,” a period marked by both her relationship with Piqué and financial challenges. Despite performing over 120 concerts in 90 cities worldwide during this time, she claims that all her earnings were absorbed by the Spanish state.
