Entertainment News3 min(s) read
Published 11:28 27 Sep 2022 GMT
Shakira is reportedly facing up to eight years in prison after being ordered to stand trial by a Spanish judge.
As reported by The Independent, the 'Hips Don't Lie' singer has been accused of tax fraud stemming from alleged activity between 2012 and 2014.
Six Spanish state prosecutors have accused the 45-year-old Columbian singer of not paying taxes in Spain between these years, with Spanish courts now being persuaded enough to summon the chart-topper to trial.
The allegation first surfaced back in 2021 when Shakira was accused of using shell companies to conceal control of assets. The singer also allegedly lied about her residence in those years and only put her name on forms in countries that are perceived to be "tax havens".
Shakira - who allegedly only registered as a full tax resident in Spain in 2015 - maintains that she was only in Spain "sporadically" during the aforementioned time period, but prosecutors have argued that she was living in Barcelona for more than six months of the year.
Spanish residents are defined as individuals who spend more than 183 days in a given calendar year in Spain and are required to pay Spanish taxes on their worldwide income.
In total, the mom-of-two reportedly earned has been accused of defrauding the Spanish tax office out of 14.5 million euros (£12.2 million), based on the income she made.
Shakira has stated that the allegations made against her are "false" and has rejected a plea deal, with her lawyers stating that the 'Whenever, Wherever' singer is "absolutely certain of her innocence".
In a statement made on July 27, her legal team stated that Shakira "trusts her innocence and chooses to leave the issue in the hands of the law". In their statement, her team also alleged that the prosecutor's office used "abusive methods" to conduct its investigation
Prosecutors have demanded an eight-year prison sentence if Shakira - full name Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll - is convicted. The Mirror also reports that the singer could be fined 23 million euros (£19.2 million) if she is found guilty.
The Mirror adds that tax inspectors spent over a year monitoring Shakira's activity - going as far as to visit her favorite salon in Barcelone and sifting through her social media accounts to try and piece together how she spent her time between 2012 and 2014.
Prosecutors then submitted their indictment to an investigating court in Esplugues de Llobregat near Barcelona
During the time period that is under investigation, Shakira was in a relationship with soccer star Gerard Pique. The couple has since split, confirming their separation earlier this year.
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celebrity3 min(s) read
Published 16:11 17 Nov 2023 GMT
Shakira, fresh off her Latin Grammy success, is now facing a potential eight years in prison. The 46-year-old singer, known for smash hits like 'Hips Don’t Lie' and 'Waka Waka,' is gearing up for a trial in Barcelona over allegations of evading 14.5 million euros ($24 million) in taxes.
The prosecutors are pushing for a substantial jail term of eight years and two months, coupled with a hefty fine of nearly 24 million euros ($40 million).
The Colombian pop star, who currently lives in Miami with her sons Milan and Sasha, has firmly denied any misconduct. Her refusal to accept a plea deal with prosecutors has set the stage for a high-profile trial beginning this Monday. Central to the case is the period between 2012 and 2014, with allegations stating Shakira spent more than half of this time in Spain, thereby owing taxes to the Spanish government.
The prosecution's narrative suggests that Shakira's move to Spain was influenced by her public relationship with FC Barcelona defender Gerard Pique in 2011. Despite this, she reportedly maintained her tax residency in the Bahamas until 2015.
Prosecutors claim that Shakira used companies based in tax havens to evade Spanish taxes, a charge her legal team counters by highlighting her “nomadic life” until 2014 and her major earnings from international tours, Reuters reports.
The trial, expected to conclude on December 14, will involve close to 120 witnesses. Although Shakira is slated to testify in the initial session, she may seek permission to skip subsequent hearings. Nevertheless, private aspects of her life are likely to be scrutinized, as Spanish prosecutors have conducted thorough investigations, including interviews with neighbors and analysis of her social media activity.
Shakira's financial dealings have been under the microscope before, notably in the 2021 “Pandora Papers” leaks. These revelations exposed the tax avoidance strategies of the global elite, linking Shakira to residence claims in the Bahamas.
This legal battle contrasts sharply with Shakira's recent triumphs at the Latin Grammy Awards in Seville, Spain. There, she performed twice and snagged three awards, including Song of the Year. Her track 'Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53', a collaboration with Argentine DJ Bizarrap, not only targets her ex-partner Pique but also alludes to her tax troubles, resonating with nearly 1.5 billion streams on Spotify and YouTube.
Despite internal pressures to modify the lyrics, Shakira stood firm, emphasizing her identity as an artist and a woman, rather than a diplomat. Her performance of 'Acróstico' at the Grammys, adorned in a striking gold gown and flanked by a video of her sons, was a poignant moment amid her ongoing legal ordeal.
Shakira’s trial is not just a legal battle but a narrative about a global icon caught in the crosshairs of fame, fortune, and the law. The outcome of this trial could significantly impact her career and personal life, making it a closely watched event by fans and critics alike.
entertainment news3 min(s) read
Published 15:41 20 Nov 2023 GMT
Shakira has struck a plea deal on the first trial day of her long-standing tax fraud case in Barcelona.
The Colombian singer, famed for hits like 'Hips Don’t Lie' and 'Waka Waka', agreed to accept six counts of tax fraud, avoiding the risk of a prison sentence, TMZ reports.
The 46-year-old star confirmed to presiding magistrate José Manuel del Amo that she acknowledged failing to pay the Spanish government 14.5 million euros (about $15.8 million) in taxes from 2012 to 2014. Shakira’s acceptance of the deal means she is set to receive a suspended three-year sentence and a fine of half the amount owed - more than 7.3 million euros.
She also accepted another fine of 438,000 euros in order to avoid a three-year prison sentence, the judge announced during the trial's first hearing.
Originally, prosecutors aimed for a heavier sentence of eight years and two months, alongside a 24 million euro fine. However, the trial, anticipated to span weeks with over 100 witnesses, concluded abruptly in just eight minutes following Shakira's acceptance of the plea deal.
In a heartfelt statement, per Associated Press, Shakira expressed her decision to prioritize her family and mental well-being. “I need to move past the stress and emotional toll of the last several years and focus on the things I love, my kids and all the opportunities to come in my career,” she said. The singer, now residing in Miami with her sons Milan and Sasha, emphasized her commitment to putting this challenging chapter behind her.
The case centered on Shakira's residency status during the aforementioned period. Prosecutors argued that despite her official tax residency in the Bahamas, Shakira spent significant time in Spain and thus owed taxes on her global income. Shakira's defense maintained that she led a "nomadic life" during this period, only settling in Spain in 2015.
Shakira’s appearance at the courthouse was brief but noteworthy, as she was seen waving to bystanders before the session. Defense lawyer Miriam Company acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, stating: “Her legal team had prepared the trial and were convinced we could demonstrate her innocence, but the circumstances changed and [Shakira] opted to accept the deal.”
This legal battle comes after Shakira's name surfaced in the 2021 "Paradise Papers" leaks, exposing the offshore tax arrangements of numerous high-profile individuals. Despite her previous payments and interest to the Spanish tax office, this deal marks a significant development in her ongoing legal troubles.
Shakira's tax woes aren't over yet, as she faces another charge for allegedly evading 6.7 million euros in tax on her 2018 income. This follows a trend in Spain of targeting high-profile figures for tax evasion, including soccer stars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who also avoided prison time.
The artist recently expressed gratitude to her Spanish fans for their unwavering support, highlighting the complexity of her public and personal life - thanking her fans at the Latin Grammy Awards on Thursday for being with her "in the good times and the bad".
celebrity3 min(s) read
Published 15:25 26 Sep 2023 GMT
Shakira has found herself embroiled in legal troubles once more, as Spanish prosecutors level fresh tax fraud charges against her, this time concerning her income in 2018.
This development is part of a series of allegations that the 'Hips Don't Lie' singer failed to meet her tax obligations in Spain, a claim she categorically denies.
According to a statement obtained by the Associated Press, prosecutors from Barcelona assert that Shakira, 46, neglected to remit approximately $7.1 million (6.7 million euros) in taxes for the year 2018. It is suggested that she leveraged an offshore company situated in a tax haven to circumvent this payment.
Shakira was notified about these charges in Miami, her current place of residence. These accusations are not the first of their kind; they succeed earlier probes initiated in July by a Spanish court into the alleged discrepancies in the singer's personal income and wealth tax in the said year.
The court, in Esplugues de Llobregat, near Barcelona, instituted a second investigation following a formal complaint by the Barcelona Economic Crimes Prosecutor about the artist's purported tax evasion activities, as translated from Spanish media giant El Pais.
The localized media source, El Periodico, also conveyed that the prosecutor's office has lodged a complaint covering two alleged instances of tax offenses.
This matter has garnered substantial attention, emphasizing the intricate relationship between celebrities and tax obligations, and placing Shakira at the center of an escalating legal quandary.
The multi-platinum artist’s representatives are yet to issue a statement concerning the fresh allegations.
A representative for Shakira told People in a statement at the time that she "defends having always acted in accordance with the law and under the advice of the best tax experts. She is now focused on her life as an artist in Miami and is confident that there will be a favorable resolution of her tax issues."
The 'Underneath Your Clothes' singer, meanwhile, will stand trial in a $13.9 million tax evasion case after being accused of not paying taxes from 2012 to 2014.
Prosecutors in Spain said the star spent the majority of those years residing in Spain with her former partner and former professional Spanish soccer player, Gerard Piqué, and their two sons, Sasha, eight, and Milan, 10, and was therefore obliged to follow the country's tax laws.
Shakira says that she spent the majority of her time living in her primary residence located in the Bahamas and has denied committing tax evasion. Her public relations firm has also claims that she paid what she owed in addition $3 million in interest.
uncategorised3 min(s) read
Published 10:50 23 Jan 2018 GMT
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Published 17:14 27 Mar 2024 GMT
Shakira has opened up about her former relationship with Gerard Piqué, blaming him "for dragging her down".
The 47-year-old 'Hips Don't Lie' songstress announced in 2022 that she had split up with the soccer player, who is also the father of her two children, Sasha and Milan.
Shakira had been in a relationship with the 37-year-old Spanish athlete since 2010 after the pair met on the set of her music video for the World Cup anthem 'Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)'. It wasn't until May 2011 that the pair went public with their relationship.
However, in 2022, the pair released a joint statement confirming their separation that read: "We regret to confirm that we are separating. We ask for privacy at this moment for the well-being of our children, who are our maximum priority. Thank you in advance for your understanding and respect."
On Monday (March 25), the three-time Grammy winner appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to promote her new album, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran (Women No Longer Cry).
She opened up about her former relationship with the soccer star, telling the comedian that the reason for the seven-year gap between her latest album and 2017’s El Dorado was her ex-partner.
Watch Shakira on The Tonight Show below:
"I’ve been putting out music here and there, but I think it was really hard for me to put together a body of work" the Colombian superstar shared. "I didn’t have time. It was the husband factor."
"Now I’m husband-less," the She-Wolf hitmaker declared. (She never married Piqué) "The husband was dragging me down. Now I’m free! Now I can actually work!"
The 'Whenever, Wherever' singer-songwriter continued to share more about her recovery processes following her break-up.
"I was trying to rebuild myself and music was the glue, but it felt like it was an alchemical process in which I was transforming pain and anger and frustration into creativity and productivity and strength and resilience," she said.
She also explained why she chose precious stones for the alternate covers of her new album, telling Fallon: "The resilience of a diamond. So that’s why I picked the metaphor of the precious stones, because of the resilience that us women have today when we have to face adversity."
The mother-of-two also opened up about the societal expectations placed on women to hide their pain, sharing that her 12th studio album rejects these standards.
"It’s men’s turn [to cry] now," she said. "Now women [should] decide when to cry, how to cry, and until when. No one is supposed to tell us how to cope with the hardship of life."
Shakira‘s latest album, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran, is out now!
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