Colombian pop star Shakira recently settled a $15 million tax fraud case with the Spanish government, a decision she asserts was made to protect her children rather than an admission of guilt.
In a heartfelt essay published in the Spanish newspaper El Mundo on September 5, 2024, Shakira explained, "I did it to protect my children and to get on with my life, not out of cowardice or guilt."
The Grammy-winning artist had been embroiled in a five-year legal battle over allegations that she failed to pay 14.5 million euros (approximately $15.6 million) in taxes between 2012 and 2014.
Despite maintaining her innocence throughout, Shakira decided to settle the case in November 2023 to avoid potential jail time and further public scrutiny. She emphasized, "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."
Shakira, who moved to Spain in 2015 to be with her then-partner Gerard Piqué, faced accusations from the Spanish Tax Agency that she falsely claimed to live in the Bahamas while actually residing in Catalonia.
The singer refuted these claims, stating that her finances were thoroughly investigated by reputable institutions like the White House and the IRS, which found no signs of illegality.
In her essay, Shakira also criticized the Spanish authorities for their harsh treatment, accusing them of trying to "publicly burn [her] at the stake" rather than listening to her reasons. She wrote, "No one can write my story for me. Just like with my songs, I sing to live peacefully again, to turn the page."
Ultimately, Shakira's decision to settle was driven by her desire to prioritize her sons, Milan and Sasha, whom she shares with Piqué. She concluded, "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."
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