Shakira has been embroiled in an eight-year legal battle after Spanish authorities accused her of tax fraud in 2018. Now, the “Hips Don’t Lie” singer has been acquitted and is owed a massive reimbursement from the government. However, in the meantime, she remains in legal limbo.
According to Variety, Spain’s high court acquitted Skakira of tax fraud in May 2026. Following the investigation, the court ordered the country’s treasury to issue a refund of almost $65 million to the 49-year-old, including interest. This came as the court ruled that the funds had been improperly collected from the singer.
Regarding the acquittal, the court found that the government agency failed to prove that Shakira spent 183 days in the country in 2011. Had this been the case, she would have been deemed a resident and required to pay personal income tax. However, she instead spent only 163 days in Spain that financial year.
For the time being, Shakira remains in limbo as the nation’s tax agency has vowed to appeal to the Spanish Supreme Court. Additionally, they will not remit funds to the icon until the final ruling is issued.
Shakira Issued A Statement Following Tax Fraud Acquittal
Following the news of her acquittal, Shakira issued a statement, calling the eight-year court battle “brutal” and accusing the investigation of being an attempt to harm her reputation.
She said, “After more than eight years of enduring brutal public targeting, orchestrated campaigns to destroy my reputation, and sleepless nights that ultimately impacted my health and my family’s well-being, the National High Court has finally set the record straight.”
After that, she noted that the accusation of “fraud” was false and that “the Administration itself could never prove otherwise, simply because it wasn’t true.”
From there, she detailed the grooling process, saying, “Yet, for nearly a decade, I was treated as guilty. Every step of the process was leaked, distorted, and amplified, using my name and public image to send a threatening message to the rest of the taxpayers.”
Shakira then said the “narrative crumbles” regarding her legal victory. In the end, she dedicated her win to “ordinary citizens who are abused and crushed every day by a system that presumes their guilt and forces them to prove their innocence at the cost of economic and emotional ruin.”
Fans Are Rallying Around Shakira
Shakira’s legal victory is being celebrated online, especially for her mention of “ordinary citizens” accused of similar financial crimes. One person on X said, “I’m not sure how Shakira could be guilty of anything other than being one of the most beautiful women on earth. In all seriousness, I’m glad this legal nightmare is over.”
Someone else said, “That’s a big win for her. I hope the news of her acquittal is as loud as the news of her charges were.” A different person wrote, “The Spanish tax authorities always seem to be fishing in troubled waters. They’ll take the money from anyone who’s not careful. The same thing happened with James Rodríguez.”
After that, a different X user reacted to Shakira’s reimbursement. According to them, “Wait, $64 million returned? That’s a plot twist even her greatest hits didn’t see coming… good for her.”
The Singer Previously Settled
In addition to being accused of failing to pay taxes for 2011, the Spanish court found that the singer committed the same offense from 2012 to 2014. However, in lieu of a trial, she reached a settlement in November 2023, according to the BBC. Per the agreement, she paid $7 million after being accused of owing $15 million.
She explained her decision to settle in 2024 in a letter published in “El Mundo.” She explained that she did so to protect her children, stating, “I want to leave my children the legacy of a woman who explained her reasons calmly and in her own time, when she considered it necessary, not when she was forced to.”
Shakira added, “I need them to know that I made the decisions I made to protect them, to be by their side, and to get on with my life. Not out of cowardice or guilt.”
The Icon Recently Performed For 2 Million People
Shakira became the latest artist to headline Copacabana on May 2. According to Reuters, the iconic singer also became the newest performer to draw a 2 million-person audience, following Lady Gaga in 2025.
She addressed the crowd, saying, “Brazil, I love you. It’s magical to see millions of souls together, ready to sing, feel, dance, and remind the world of what really matters.” Shakira performed hits such as “Hips Don’t Lie,” “Antologia,” and “Waka Waka.”
Additionally, according to Billboard, the music legend will perform during the halftime at the 2026 World Cup. Madonna and BTS will also take the stage.
