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Shakira and her fans spent the past week celebrating their youngest Legal victory to celebrate: After an eight-year-long dispute with the Spanish tax office over tax fraud allegations, Shakira was not only acquitted, but also received a hefty amount of compensation. Since then, her followers have really turned up the heat and flooded the internet with funny memes showing the star cashing out – proof of this women who facturan.
As a reminder, Spain’s tax authorities accused Shakira of tax evasion in 2011 and tried to prove that she had lived in Spain long enough to be considered a taxpayer at the time. The National High Court found that she had spent only 163 days in Spain in 2011 – not enough for the 183 days sought by the prosecution. Shakira was acquitted and will also receive 60 million euros (around $64 million) in compensation for an overturned tax office fine.
“After more than eight years of brutal public attacks, targeted campaigns to destroy my reputation, and sleepless nights that ultimately compromised my health and the well-being of my family, the National High Court has finally set things right,” Shakira said in a statement. “There was never any fraud, and the authorities were never able to prove otherwise – simply because it wasn’t true.”
Rihanna in the background
In her music she had already indicated how much the case had affected her: In Bizarrap’s worldwide hit “BZRP Music Sessions, Vol. 53”, in which she ripped off her ex Gerard Piqué, Shakira also mentioned the tax office and sang: “You left me your mother as a neighbor, the press at my door and a tax debt / You thought you had harmed me, but you made me stronger.” After the acquittal, Shakira apparently celebrated the payback in her own way: She shared photos of herself while Rihanna’s “Bitch Better Have My Money” played in the background. Nothing more was needed.
That was enough of a starting signal for the fans. On Others took up the name of their legendary 1999 album: “Dónde Están los Ladrones” – Where are the thieves?
The Spanish tax office reportedly plans to appeal the ruling to the country’s highest court. Shakira may only be able to collect the money after the Spanish Supreme Court makes a final ruling – but that won’t stop the meme machine.
