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Julio Iglesias, the renowned Grammy-winning artist, has firmly denied recent accusations of sexual assault made by two former employees. In a statement released on Friday, Iglesias described the claims as “absolutely untrue,” seeking to clarify his position amid growing media scrutiny.
Reports surfaced earlier this week, alleging that Iglesias had engaged in sexual and physical assault against two women who were employed at his residences in the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas during the period from January to October 2021. These allegations prompted an immediate response from Spanish prosecutors, who announced they were reviewing the claims.
Expressing his dismay on Instagram, Iglesias stated, “With deep sorrow, I respond to the accusations made by two people who previously worked at my home. I deny having abused, coerced, or disrespected any woman. These accusations are absolutely false and cause me great sadness.”
The allegations were brought to light through a joint investigation conducted by Spanish news outlet elDiario.es and U.S. network Univision Noticias, which published their findings on January 13.
File/Julio Iglesias circa 1980 at home in Spain. (Patrice PICOT/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
According to officials, the Spanish high court formally received the allegations against Iglesias on January 5. The court, based in Madrid, holds the authority to prosecute alleged crimes by Spanish citizens, even if these acts were committed abroad.
A rights group representing the two women said they were 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.” Women’s Link Worldwide said the two women had presented the complaint to the Spanish court.
The 82-year-old is one of the world’s most successful musical artists, having sold more than 300 million records in more than a dozen languages. After making his start in Spain, Iglesias won immense popularity in the U.S. and wider world in the 1970s and 1980s. He is the father of pop singer Enrique Iglesias.
In 1988, he won a Grammy for Best Latin Pop Performance for his album “Un Hombre Solo.” He also received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys in 2019.
“I had never experienced such malice, but I still have the strength for people to know the full truth and to defend my dignity against such a serious affront,” Iglesias wrote on social media.
He thanked those who had sent messages of support.
