Julio Iglesias embroiled in scandal, two former employees reveal alleged harassment

JAKARTA - Legendary Spanish singer Julio Iglesias is in the middle of a major scandal after two former employees filed sexual assault and human trafficking charges.

The case came to light after a three-year joint investigation by Univision Noticias television network and Spanish news website elDiario.es.

Citing NME, the report states that there is an allegation of sexual harassment that occurred in 2021, when Iglesias was 77 years old, and involves the testimony of dozens of former staff who describe their work environment as a place full of intimidation and normalized harassment.

Two women who used the pseudonyms "Rebecca" and Laura, gave shocking details about the star's behavior.

Rebecca claimed that Iglesias often called her to a private room at the end of the work day to touch her inappropriately without consent. She said that these actions were often carried out in front of other employees, which made her feel like a slave.

Meanwhile, Laura admitted that she had been forced to kiss in the mouth and groped by Iglesias. The two agreed that there was a suffocating atmosphere of control and constant harassment while they worked for the now 82-year-old singer.

The investigation conducted by elDiario.es mentions that the testimony of these two women is consistent over more than a year of interviews and is supported by extensive documentary evidence, including call logs, WhatsApp messages, medical records, and visa documents.

In addition, it was revealed that the recruitment process for Iglesias' staff was said to have included asking for photos of the face and the entire body. Once they arrived at the workplace, the applicants claimed to have been bombarded with inappropriate questions about their sexual preferences.

Until now, Julio Iglesias and his lawyers have not responded even though they have been contacted many times through various communication channels.

The case itself sparked a split opinion in Spain. The president of the Madrid region, Isabel Diaz Ayuso, publicly defended Iglesias through social media by stating that Madrid would not contribute to efforts to discredit the artist, especially for a figure he considers the most universal singer.

However, a contrasting statement came from the Spanish Minister of Labor, Yolanda Diaz, who called the allegations "horrible". He stressed that the report described a situation of sexual assault and working conditions that resembled modern slavery.

On the other hand, a colleague who was said to have been present during the incident denied Rebecca's accusations, stating that he only had gratitude and admiration for Iglesias, who he described as a man who respected women very much.