AU URGES DE-ESCALATION AS FIGHTING DISPLACES OVER 180,000 IN SOUTH SUDAN’S JONGLEI STATE. (PHOTO).
Grammy-winning singer Julio Iglesias on Friday forcefully denied allegations that he sexually assaulted two former employees, calling the claims “absolutely untrue” and expressing deep distress over the accusations. Reports published earlier in the week alleged that Iglesias sexually and physically abused two women who worked at his residences in the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas between January and October 2021. Shortly after the reports surfaced, Spanish prosecutors confirmed they were reviewing the allegations to determine whether further legal action is warranted.
In a statement shared on social media, Iglesias said he had never abused, coerced, or disrespected any woman and described the allegations as false and deeply painful. He said the accusations had caused him great sadness and described them as an attack on his dignity, adding that he remained confident the truth would ultimately come to light. Formal allegations were submitted earlier this month to a Spanish high court, which has jurisdiction to hear cases involving alleged crimes committed abroad by Spanish citizens, raising the possibility that the matter could proceed in Madrid.
Iglesias, 82, is one of the most successful recording artists in music history, with a career spanning decades and more than 300 million records sold worldwide in multiple languages. Rising to international fame in the 1970s and 1980s, he became a global star and later saw his legacy extended through his son, pop singer Enrique Iglesias. His accolades include a Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Performance in 1988 for the album Un Hombre Solo and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.
In his statement, Iglesias said he had never before experienced what he described as such malice but vowed to defend himself and make the full truth known. He also thanked supporters who had reached out with messages of encouragement as the allegations and legal review continue to unfold.
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