From 2011 until 2022, Colombian singer Shakira was in a committed relationship with Spanish soccer star Gerard Piqué. During the course of their relationship, the couple had two children together. The couple split in June 2022 and, not long after, Shakira fell into some serious legal trouble. According to the Spanish Tax Agency, the songstress lived in Spain for three years, but never paid taxes. Shakira’s legal team tried to argue that her main residence was in the Bahamas, but a judge sided with the Spanish Tax Agency. Shakira is set to stand trial for evading paying taxes in 2012, 2013, and 2014, for a total of $13.9 million.
While one tax fraud case may seem like a lot, Shakira’s legal problems have just gotten worse. According to a report from The Associated Press, the Spanish Tax Agency is claiming that Shakira also did not pay taxes in 2018 either.
Now, a Spanish judge has agreed with state prosecutors to probe two possible cases of tax fraud by Shakira from 2018. The court said it had no information on how much money was in question…
Shakira’s public relations firm, Llorente y Cuenca, said in a statement in Spanish that the artist had “always acted in concordance with the law and on the advice of her financial advisers.”
The firm said that Shakira, who now lives in Miami, has yet to receive notification of the second probe.
“(Shakira) is now focused on her artistic career in Miami and is calm and confident that she will receive a favorable resolution of her fiscal issues,” the firm said.
Per her legal team, Shakira has denied all the charges against her. While her team has said she lives primarily in the Bahamas, the tax agency disagrees. The agency said that they have proof that she was in Spain for more than 200 days in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2018. Because of that, she is required to pay an income tax and a wealth tax.
Shakira’s first tax evasion case is set to go to trial in November. If found guilty, the singer will face more than just a large fine. According to Spanish law, she could face up to eight years in prison.
Shakira has had a number of hit songs over the years, but she became loved by Disney fans when she starred as the Gazelle in the hit 2016 film Zootopia. She did not return for Zootopia+ when it premiered on Disney+ in 2022. She is also not expected to return for Zootopia 2, which was announced by Disney CEO Bob Iger back in February 2023.
