In a shocking turn of events, Spanish singer Julio Iglesias, a household name since the 1960s, is at the centre of a sexual assault investigation in Spain. Two women have come forward, accusing the 82-year-old of sexually assaulting them while they were employed at his properties in the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas.
The allegations, reported by Spanish news site elDiario.es and US outlet Univision, are now being investigated by Spain’s judiciary. According to the reports, the women, identified as Rebeca, a Dominican domestic worker, and Laura, a Venezuelan physical therapist, claim that Iglesias “normalised abuse” in a coercive, threatening and violent environment.
Rebeca alleges that Iglesias would regularly call her to his room and touch her inappropriately without consent, saying “He used me almost every night. I felt like an object, like a slave.” She also claims that Iglesias forced her to participate in threesomes with another female staff member and physically assaulted her.
Similarly, Laura states that Iglesias touched her breasts and kissed her against her will, constantly threatening to fire her, controlling her food intake and inquiring about her menstrual cycle. “He always said I was fat and had to lose weight,” she said, describing a working environment of “normalised abuse.”
The reports indicate that the allegations are backed by documentary evidence, including photographs, phone records, text messages and medical reports. Additionally, other former employees of Iglesias have described a threatening and highly stressful atmosphere for those working for him.
In response to the allegations, Iglesias and his lawyer have not provided a comment, despite repeated requests from the news outlets. However, a woman identified as a manager of one of the singer’s Caribbean properties has dismissed the claims as “nonsense.”
The case has sparked a wider conversation in Spain about sexual assault allegations against high-profile individuals. Just last month, a woman filed a complaint alleging that former Prime Minister Adolfo Suárez, who was revered for his role during Spain’s transition to democracy, had sexually abused her when she was 17 years old.
While some have come out in support of Iglesias, including the president of the Madrid region, the equality minister in Spain’s Socialist-led government, Ana Redondo, has expressed hope that the case will be investigated “all the way,” stating that “When there is no consent, there is assault.”
As the investigation continues, the allegations against Julio Iglesias have reignited the discussion around accountability and the need to address sexual misconduct, even among the rich and famous.
