Spanish singer Julio Iglesias has been accused of sexual assault by two former female employees, who say they endured inappropriate touching, insults, and humiliation in a climate of control and constant harassment.
The women—a domestic worker and a physical therapist employed at Iglesias’s Caribbean mansions in the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas—allege the assaults occurred in 2021.
These claims emerged after a three-year joint investigation by the Spanish news site elDiario.es and the Spanish-language TV network Univision Noticias. The investigation gathered testimonies from 15 former employees who worked for the 82-year-old singer between the late 1990s and 2023.
In its report published Tuesday, elDiario.es stated that the interviews described the women’s isolation, labor disputes, the hierarchical staff structure, and the tense environment created by Iglesias’s short temper.
The two women who reported sexual assault were interviewed repeatedly over more than a year, and their accounts remained consistent. Their statements are backed by extensive evidence, including photographs, call logs, WhatsApp messages, visas, medical reports, and other documents.
One woman, identified as Rebecca to protect her privacy, said Iglesias, then 77, would often call her to his room at the end of the workday. She alleges he would then penetrate her anally and vaginally with his fingers without her consent. “He used me almost every night,” she told the outlets. “I felt like an object, like a slave.”
According to Rebecca, the assaults often took place in the presence—and with the involvement—of another Iglesias employee who was her superior.
Another woman, using the pseudonym Laura, told the media that Iglesias kissed her on the mouth and touched her breasts without her permission. “We were at the beach and he came up to me and touched my nipples,” she said, adding that a similar incident happened by the pool at his villa in Punta Cana, a luxury resort in the Dominican Republic.
Both women described a tense, controlling atmosphere where Iglesias “normalized abuse.” Rebecca said, “That house should be called the little house of terror because it is a nightmare—something truly horrible.”
Accounts from former employees also shed light on the recruitment process, which began with social media ads targeting young women. Applicants were asked to provide photos of their faces and full bodies.
Rebecca and Laura said Iglesias asked them intimate questions soon after they arrived, such as, “Do you like women?”, “Do you like threesomes?”, and “Have you had breast surgery?” They say he asked to see their breasts on several occasions and touched them.
Later on Tuesday, elDiario.es reported that the two women had filed a formal complaint with prosecutors at Spain’s highest criminal court, the Audiencia Nacional, accusing Iglesias of human trafficking and sexual assault.
Journalists from elDiario.es and Univision repeatedly tried to contact Julio Iglesias and his lawyer through email, phone, and letter but received no response.
However, the woman whom Rebecca identified as her first supervisor at the Punta Cana mansion—and with whom she claims to have had her first sexual encounter involving Iglesias—dismissed the allegations as nonsense. She expressed “gratitude, admiration and respect for the great artist and human being that he is,” describing him as “humble, generous, a great gentleman, and very respectful to all women.”
Iglesias, who has sold over 300 million records in his six-decade career, also received support from Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the outspoken right-wing president of the Madrid region. “Women are being attacked and raped in Ir…”The far left’s complicit silence is to blame,” she wrote in a message on X. “The Madrid region will never take part in discrediting artists, especially not the most universal singer of all: Julio Iglesias.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the accusations against Julio Iglesias framed in a natural tone with direct answers
Basic Information The Accusations
1 What is Julio Iglesias being accused of
Two former female employees have accused the singer of sexual assault The specific allegations reported by the Spanish newspaper El País include forced kissing and groping during private encounters at his home in the late 1980s
2 Who made the accusations
The accusers are two women who worked for Iglesiass company in Miami in the 1980s They have chosen to remain anonymous in media reports to protect their privacy
3 When did these alleged incidents happen
The alleged assaults are said to have occurred around 19881991
4 Has Julio Iglesias responded to these allegations
Yes Through his legal team he has issued a strong and categorical denial calling the accusations completely false and unlawful
5 Why are these accusations coming out now
The women stated they were inspired by the global MeToo movement and recent changes in Spanish law that extended the statute of limitations for sexual assault cases They decided to come forward together for mutual support
Legal Media Context
6 Have the police been involved Is there a lawsuit
As of now the women have given testimony to a prosecutor in Spain which is the first step in a potential legal process No formal criminal charges have been filed and there is no known active civil lawsuit in the United States where the alleged acts occurred
7 What is the statute of limitations Could he still be charged
This is legally complex The alleged acts happened in Florida USA decades ago Floridas statute of limitations for such older sexual battery cases has likely expired making criminal prosecution there very unlikely The women are seeking a symbolic investigation in Spain where Iglesias is a citizen but the primary jurisdiction would be the United States
8 How has the media handled this story
The story was broken by the major Spanish newspaper El País after a lengthy investigation International media have picked it up but coverage often notes the significant legal hurdles and Iglesiass forceful denial
Broader Implications Discussion
