Julio Iglesias denies sexual assault allegations by former employees

Grammy-winning singer Julio Iglesias denied allegations that he sexually assaulted two former employees, calling the accusations “absolutely untrue,” according to a report published Friday by The Associated Press.

In the response, Iglesias said, “With deep sorrow, 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,” adding that the allegations caused him “great sadness,” the AP reported.

The AP report said media outlets earlier in the week alleged Iglesias sexually and physically assaulted two women who worked at his residences in the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas between January and October 2021. A day after those reports, Spanish prosecutors were studying the allegations, according to the AP.

The statement was posted on Instagram, the AP reported. The AP also said Iglesias wrote that he had “never experienced such malice” but still had “the strength for people to know the full truth and to defend my dignity against such a serious affront,” and he thanked those who sent messages of support.

The AP said Spanish outlet elDiario.es and U.S. television network Univision Noticias published a joint, three-year investigation on Jan. 13 into the allegations. The investigation was based on allegations that surfaced publicly earlier that week, the AP said.

The AP reported that a Spanish high court received formal allegations against Iglesias on Jan. 5, citing officials. It said Iglesias could potentially be taken before a Madrid-based court, which — according to its press office — can try alleged crimes by Spanish citizens while they are abroad.

A rights group representing the two women said the women were accusing Iglesias of “crimes against sexual freedom and indemnity such as sexual harassment,” as well as “human trafficking for the purpose of forced labor and servitude,” the AP reported. Women’s Link Worldwide said the two women presented the complaint to the Spanish court, according to the AP.

The AP described Iglesias, 82, as one of the world’s most successful musical artists, saying he has sold more than 300 million records in more than a dozen languages. It said he won a Grammy in 1988 for Best Latin Pop Performance for the album “Un Hombre Solo” and received a Grammys Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.