Eight years in prison were at stake for Shakira. Now the singer has pleaded guilty.
The negotiations on Shakira’s tax fraud trial have barely begun when they end again. On Monday (November 20th), the Colombian pop singer appeared before the regional court in Barcelona, where a trial lasting several days was scheduled until December 14th. Shortly before the start of the court hearing, however, an agreement was reached – Shakira pleaded guilty.
The musician was accused of tax evasion as early as 2022. She is said to have failed to pay taxes amounting to 14.5 million euros to the Spanish government between 2012 and 2014. The songwriter always rejected the accusation that she was living in Spain during this time. Shakira, on the other hand, claimed that she lived in the Bahamas for tax purposes and only traveled to Spain frequently for her ex-husband and the father of her two children, Gerard Piqué, until she finally moved there in 2015. The artist rejected an offer from the public prosecutor’s office this year. Through her Spanish PR agency, she said she “believes in her innocence and leaves the matter to the judiciary.”
Now it is the second investigation against the “Hips Don’t Lie” interpreter. In July 2023, the tax office reported her for evading income and wealth tax in 2018. The 46-year-old faced eight years and two months in prison and a fine of 23.8 million euros. Shakira continued to deny the allegations – until now.
Shakira admits her guilt
At the start of the trial, the singer pleaded guilty and agreed to a fine. In an announcement released by her lawyers, the artist explained her change of position: “I had two options: continue fighting to the end, risk my peace of mind and that of my children, stop making songs, albums and tours, or this chapter of my life “To finish and leave it behind me.” She now chose the latter option and accepted a fine of 7.3 million euros and a three-year suspended prison sentence. She would admire everyone “who fought to the end against these injustices, but for me winning now means having time for my children and my career again,” the Colombian adds.
According to media reports, Shakira, whose full name is Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, is also of the opinion that some authorities have set themselves the goal of intentionally “damaging her reputation”.
The musician recently took part in the Latin Grammy Awards, which took place in Seville on November 16th, and won three awards in the categories “Best Song”, “Best Pop Song” and “Best Performance”.