Shakira has decided to take a shortcut to her tax evasion case and get it over with as quickly as possible. We know the stress these legal proceedings can take and Shakira is in no place to muster the mental capacity needed to take them on, not with her separation from Barcelona football player Piqué bringing increased media attention to her personal life.
AMP in the post
So for her boys, she has decided to bow out and pay the Spanish government a €7.5m (£6.5m) fine. Here’s her reason for doing so.
Shakira – Releases Lengthy Statement Detailing Her Reason For Avoiding A Court Battle In Her Tax Evasion Case
This is not the first time that the Spanish government has accused the superstar of tax evasion, but this time they’re actually going home with a huge cut of the singer’s money.
However, if Shakira had indeed gone to court and lost, she would have been fined €23.8m (£20.8m) and possibly jailed for a period of 8 years, as her prosecutors originally wanted.
When the case was brought up several months ago, Shakira denied any wrongdoings, and she has continued to do so till today. At the time, Shakira had just opted to move to the US with her two young sons.
AMP in the post
After choosing to settle the case out of court, the Latin performer released a statement saying that she settled “with the best interest of my kids at heart,” adding that her children “do not want to see their mom sacrifice her personal well-being in this fight.”
The singer had previously rejected a deal offered by prosecutors, instead choosing to take the case to trial.
Shakira – Accuses The Spanish Government Of Draining “People’s Energy’s, Time, and Tranquility”
“Throughout my career, I have always strived to do what’s right and set a positive example for others,” she said in the statement. “Unfortunately, and despite these efforts, tax authorities in Spain pursued a case against me as they have against many professional athletes and other high-profile individuals, draining those people’s energy, time, and tranquillity for years at a time.”
AMP in the post
She continued: “While I was determined to defend my innocence in a trial that my lawyers were confident would have ruled in my favour, I have made the decision to finally resolve this matter with the best interest of my kids at heart who do not want to see their mom sacrifice her personal well-being in this fight.”
She shared that her deepest wish is to “move past the stress and emotional toll of the last several years and focus on the things I love – my kids and all the opportunities to come in my career.”
Be sure to catch up on everything happening with Shakira right now. Come back here often for all Shakira spoilers, news, and updates.
Editorial credit: A.RICARDO / Shutterstock.com