Shakira slammed Spanish authorities after she settled her $15 million tax fraud case.
The “Hips Don’t Lie” singer spoke out about her legal battle and explained what angered her the most about the tax fraud case.
It was a confrontation that stirred both disbelief and empathy across her fan base. “The most frustrating thing was seeing that a state institution seemed more interested in publicly burning me at the stake than in listening to my reasons,” Shakira expressed in a heartfelt interview with the Spanish newspaper El Mundo, as reported by People magazine.
The Colombian powerhouse shared her motives behind the decision to settle, revealing that her two young sons, Milan and Sasha, anchored her choices in turbulent waters. “I want to leave my children the legacy of a woman who explained her reasons calmly and in her own timing, not when pressured,” she said thoughtfully.
“The most frustrating thing was seeing that a state institution seemed more interested in publicly burning me at the stake than in listening to my reasons.”
Her maternal instinct pushed her forward. “I need them to know that I made the decisions I made to protect them, to be by their side and to get on with my life. Not out of cowardice or guilt.”
In her narrative, she aimed to reclaim her story from the clutches of sensationalism and accusation.
Shakira pointedly noted the peculiar perspective the public received, stating, “They wanted to make the public believe that I did not pay my taxes, when the truth is that I paid much more than I should have.” Her claims hinged upon the assertion that she began her residency in Spain only in 2015, yet the authorities sought retribution for the preceding decade, framing it as an unjust approach.
“What seemed like a polite way of formalizing my situation turned out to be a trap,” she observed with a sense of disillusionment. “A person who spends their time touring cannot be a tax resident in a place simply because a partner lives there.”
Shakira’s revelations didn’t stop there; she alleged a pattern of intimidation by the Spanish tax authorities. “They threaten people with jail, risk the peace of our children, and apply pressure to break us,” she lamented, shedding light on the broader implications of her ordeal.
Amid her struggles, she sought clarity. “There may be those who wonder why I am bothering to make these statements now,” she continued, her voice reflecting the weight of her experience. “The first reason is my children. We must challenge the arrogant tone from the state.”
With each word, Shakira invited the listener into her world—a world intertwined with both fame and vulnerability. “No one can write my story for me. Just like with my songs, I sing to live peacefully again, to turn the page,” she reflected, emphasizing her autonomy in storytelling.
The legal allegations suggested that she owed a staggering 6.7 million euros ($7.2 million) from her 2018 earnings. The Spanish government, armed with accusations of using an offshore entity for tax evasion, dropped charges in May, yet Shakira’s troubles didn’t cease.
Controversy resurfaced in November as Shakira agreed to resolve another tax matter, supposedly incurring a bill amounting to 15.4 million dollars, claiming her formal residence remained in the Bahamas during allegations of tax residency in Spain from 2012 to 2014.
On the first day of this tumultuous trial, she chose to strike a deal, even after previously dismissing an alternative offer. Shakira now faces a hefty fine of 7 million euros ($7.6 million) alongside a suspended three-year prison sentence, with an additional fine of 432,000 euros ($472,000).
If the verdict had been to declare her guilty, she could have faced nearly eight years behind bars and a potential financial penalty exceeding $26 million. A sobering reality for a woman who has captivated millions with her music.
