Kaylah Walton
In November 2023, Shakira Mebarak reached an agreement with the tax authorities, leading to a fine of 7.8 million euros and admitting tax fraud totaling 14.5 million euros from 2012 to 2014. This marked the end of an intense legal and media ordeal for the Colombian singer, who managed to avoid imprisonment. Nearly a year later, she candidly shares her thoughts in an exclusive letter published in El Mundo.
Shakira begins her lengthy missive by accusing the tax office of displaying a keen interest in scapegoating her without paying heed to her explanations. She labels the taxation assessment against her as “fabricated,” claiming it was designed to establish her as a tax resident since 2011, creating obligations that were not legitimate. She emphasized that her visits to Spain were always centered around Gerard Pique.
The renowned artist disclosed that her trips to Barcelona were not driven by a desire for permanent residency but were intertwined with her relationship with the former Barcelona footballer. Shakira criticized the Tax Office for enforcing a biased criteria that, in her opinion, exposes a structural gender bias within the bureaucracy, as reported by El Mundo.
Shakira: Gender Bias
She argues, “If the artist had been a male American, who fell in love with a Spanish woman and visited her regularly, I doubt that the Tax Agency would have presumed an intention to establish residency.” Shakira further criticized the tax authorities for aiming to present her as a “trophy” in order to salvage their reputation.
The Colombian artist persistently condemned the Tax Office’s stance and highlighted the prevailing “arrogance of the state” in handling such cases. “Solving issues by sacrificing a public figure every year is not a solution. Intimidation is not persuasion,” she reflected in her extensive letter.
Negotiating for the Sake of Her Children
Shakira emphasized that her agreement with the tax authorities was primarily motivated by her children. “I want them to understand that my decisions were made to shield and support them, allowing me to move forward in life, not out of fear or guilt,” she clarified. She underscored the necessity to “rebuild” her life and “turn the page.”
