Julio Iglesias Faces Sexual Assault Accusals from Former Caribbean Employees

Allegations of Sexual Assault Against Julio Iglesias

Spanish prosecutors are currently examining allegations that Grammy-winning singer Julio Iglesias sexually assaulted two former employees at his residences in the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas. The Spanish prosecutors’ office confirmed to the Associated Press that these allegations stem from media reports earlier this week, which claimed that Iglesias had sexually and physically assaulted two women who worked in his Caribbean residences between January and October 2021.

Iglesias has not made any public statements regarding the allegations. Russell L. King, a Miami-based entertainment lawyer representing Iglesias, did not immediately respond to requests for comment by the AP.

The Spanish prosecutors’ office, which handles cases for Spain’s National Court, stated that it received formal allegations against Iglesias from an unnamed party on January 5. According to the court’s press office, Iglesias could potentially face the Madrid-based court, which has the authority to try alleged crimes committed by Spanish citizens abroad.

Seeking Justice in Spain Over the Caribbean

Women’s Link Worldwide, a nongovernmental organization, is representing the two women who filed the complaint with the Spanish court. The group claims the women are accusing Iglesias of “crimes against sexual freedom and indemnity such as sexual harassment” and of “human trafficking for the purpose of forced labor and servitude.”

According to the organization, the women also reported being subjected to constant surveillance, including having their cellphones checked regularly, being prohibited from leaving the house where they worked, and being required to work up to 16 hours a day without contracts or days off.

Women’s Link Worldwide did not contact authorities in the Bahamas or the Dominican Republic and is unsure if those countries have initiated any investigations.

Gema Fernández, senior attorney at Women’s Link Worldwide, stated during an online press conference that Spanish legislation regarding sexual violence, gender-based violence, and trafficking could be an effective legal option for the women making the allegations.

“Listening to what (the two women) are seeking and their definitions of justice, it seems to us that filing a complaint with the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the National Court of Spain was the path that best suited their definition of justice. That is why we are supporting them along this path,” Fernández said.

Jovana Ríos Cisneros, executive director of Women’s Link Worldwide, noted that Spanish prosecutors have granted the two women the status of protected witnesses and have begun taking statements from them.

“Being heard by the Prosecutor’s Office is a very important step in the search for justice,” she said.

Fernández added that prosecutors have not yet set a date for the women’s statements and mentioned that prosecutors have up to six months to decide whether the information warrants criminal prosecution. This period could be extended to a year in exceptional cases.

The Prosecutor’s Office has not yet responded to requests for comment.

A Singer Under Scrutiny

Spanish online newspaper elDiario.es and Spanish-language television channel Univision Noticias published a joint investigation into Iglesias’ alleged misconduct. Ríos stated that the two women initially contacted elDiario.es, which began investigating the allegations but also advised the women to seek legal help.

Spanish government spokeswoman Elma Saiz emphasized that the media reports about Iglesias “demanded respect.” She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing any acts of violence, harassment, or aggression against women.

Panky Corcino, spokesman for the Attorney General’s Office in the Dominican Republic, declined to comment on whether an investigation is underway, stating he couldn’t confirm or deny it. By law, any case involving sexual aggression or violence in the Caribbean country must be investigated by prosecutors, even if no one has filed a formal complaint.

The Legacy of Julio Iglesias

At 82 years old, Julio Iglesias is one of the world’s most successful musical artists, having sold over 300 million records across more than a dozen languages. He rose to fame in Spain before achieving global popularity in the 1970s and ‘80s. He is the father of pop singer Enrique Iglesias.

Iglesias won a 1988 Grammy for Best Latin Pop Performance for his album “Un Hombre Solo” and received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys in 2019.

Spain’s culture minister announced that the left-wing government, which prioritizes women’s rights and equality, is considering revoking Iglesias’ Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts, which 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 Urtasun said.