Shakira received a major victory in court.
The singer was acquitted of tax fraud related to her 2011 income by the Spanish High Court, with the BBC reporting that Spain’s High Court overturned the €55 million fine Shakira initially received in 2021 by a Spanish tax agency.
PEOPLE adds that a representative for Shakira told the outlet that “the Spanish government must now return over €60 million” to the singer as authorities were “unable to prove the four-time Grammy winner spent 183 days in Spain in 2011, the minimum required amount for residents to pay personal income tax in the country.”
Shakira Shares Emotional Statement After Victory In Court
“After more than eight years of enduring brutal public targeting, orchestrated campaigns to destroy my reputation, and sleepless nights that ultimately impacted my health and my family’s well-being, the National High Court has finally set the record straight,” Shakira said in a statement, per PEOPLE.
“There was never any fraud, and the Administration itself could never prove otherwise, simply because it wasn’t true,” she continued. “Yet, for nearly a decade, I was treated as guilty. Every step of the process was leaked, distorted, and amplified, using my name and public image to send a threatening message to the rest of the taxpayers.
“Today, that narrative crumbles, and it does so with the full force of a court ruling. My greatest wish is that this ruling sets a precedent for the Treasury and serves the thousands of ordinary citizens who are abused and crushed every day by a system that presumes their guilt and forces them to prove their innocence at the cost of economic and emotional ruin. This victory is dedicated to them.”
Shakira’s lawyer also shared a statement.
“This resolution comes after an eight-year ordeal that has taken an unacceptable toll, reflecting a highly flawed administrative practice,” he explained. “Shakira had the strength and resources to see this through to the end, but this modus operandi suffocates many ordinary taxpayers who do not have the means to defend themselves. For this reason, it is an immense relief and a source of deep pride to witness the rigor and independence of our courts.”
“It comforts us to see that, when faced with unacceptable administrative stances, we can rely on a justice system that truly works and ensures the rule of law,” he concluded.
Fans Show Support For Shakira After Win In Court
Getty“MOTHER IS ALWAYS RIGHT,” one person commented.
“Shakira just got €55 million back from Spain. Court ruled they wrongly called her a tax resident in 2011. Hips don’t lie and the judges finally admitted it. Queen wins again,” another person shared.
“JUSTICE SERVED!!! They Ridiculed Her and Soiled Her name, Now they will pay back all the money and more plus they should issue formal Apology too. I’m happy,” someone wrote.
“They came for Shakira and ended up owing her $64 million. The hips don’t lie and apparently neither does the judge,” a fan said.
“”Hips Don’t Lie” and neither do the tax papers! So glad she got her money back. Never mess with a Latina queen!,” another fan stated.
