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Julio Iglesias has denied sexual and physical assault allegations made against him by two former female employees”These accusations are absolutely false and cause me great sadness,” the Grammy-winning singer wrote in an Instagram statement on Thursday, Jan. 15A joint investigation into the allegations was published by elDiario.es and Univision Noticias on Tuesday, Jan. 13
Julio Iglesias has denied sexual and physical assault allegations made against him by two former employees.
After elDiario.es and Univision Noticias published a joint investigation on Tuesday, Jan. 13 from two anonymous women who claimed to have worked at Iglesias’ Dominican Republic and Bahamas residences over 10 months in 2021, the Grammy-winning singer issued an Instagram statement two days later claiming the allegations are “absolutely false.”
“With deep regret, I respond to the accusations made by two people who previously worked at my home. I deny having abused, coerced or disrespected any woman. These accusations are absolutely false and cause me great sadness,” Iglesias, 82, began.
He continued, “I had never experienced such malice, but I still have the strength for people to know the full truth and to defend my dignity against such a serious affront.”
Iglesias then shared gratitude for “so many dear people who have sent me messages of affection and loyalty.”
“I have felt great comfort in them,” he concluded.
The Jan. 13 investigation from the two anonymous women was conducted over the course of three years.
According to Associated Press, Reuters and The New York Timesthe Spanish prosecutors’ office revealed they’re studying the allegations after a formal complaint was reportedly filed on Jan. 5.
The two accusers claimed they endured sexual assault and workplace harassment, as well as verbal and physical abuse from Iglesias while working from him, per the elDiario.es and Univision Noticias investigation.
At the time, Iglesias did not address the allegations and PEOPLE had reached out through a contact form on his website and to his entertainment lawyer Russell L. King, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
At the time, PEOPLE contacted the Spanish prosecutors’ office but had not independently verified the claims made in the outlets’ joint investigation.
Women’s Link Worldwidea nongovernmental group, revealed it’s representing the two women, who shared their allegations under the pseudonyms Rebeca and Laura.
In a statement shared via the organization, Rebeca wrote that she is “doing this to get justice for three reasons.”
“The first is for myself: for how difficult this process has been and for everything I have had to face in order to overcome it. The second is for the women who work in his homes: I want to tell them to be strong, to raise their voices, to remember that he is not invincible. And the third, for my country (the Dominican Republic): so that something like this never happens again and so that he understands that he cannot come and do whatever he wants without facing the consequences,” she wrote.
Julio Iglesias in April 2013 in Beijing.
Visual China Group via Getty
“My goal is to ensure that no woman ever suffers this kind of abuse from him again. I want to send the message that women are victims and survivors, not perpetrators or guilty parties,” Laura wrote in her statement.
Women’s Link Worldwide, which represents Rebeca and Laura, declined to comment on Iglesias’ statement to PEOPLE.
Spanish government spokeswoman Elma Saiz said the claims made against Iglesias “demanded respect,” per AP.
“Once again I can reaffirm this government’s firm and complete commitment to take on any act of violence, harassment or aggression against women,” she added, according to the outlet.
In a statement, per Reuters, Spain’s Equality Minister Ana Redondo said that Iglesias is “a great singer, but people can have a dark side.”
Per the publication, she acknowledged his presumption of innocence but expressed belief in the women’s stories.
As one of the best-selling music artists of all time, Iglesias has won two Grammy Awards and been inducted into the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame. He is also father to singer Enrique Iglesias.
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