Spanish singer Julio Iglesias responded this Friday to accusations made by two of his former employees, stating that he has never abused, coerced, or disrespected any woman. "With deep sorrow, I respond to the accusations made by two people who previously worked in my home. I deny having abused, coerced, or disrespected any woman," the artist stated on his Instagram profile. This is the first time the singer has directly responded to these accusations, revealed on Tuesday in an investigation by two media outlets, following comments published by the artist's entourage in the magazine 'Hola!' in which they stated that "everything will be clarified" and that he is "preparing his defense." "I have never felt so much malice, but I still have the strength for people to know the whole truth and defend my dignity against such a serious offense," the artist added on Instagram. At the same time, the singer says he cannot forget "so many dear people who have sent me messages of love and loyalty; I have found great comfort in them." The message immediately drew a response from the singer's current wife, Miranda Rynsburger, a native of the Netherlands, whom he married in 2010. Rynsburger, who has five children with the Spanish artist and has not made any public statements to date, wrote on her Instagram profile: "Always by your side" alongside a heart. The alleged incidents occurred in Julio Iglesias's homes in the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas, and Spain. One of the women was a domestic employee and the other a physical therapist, according to an investigation by the Spanish digital outlet elDiario.es and the American channel Univisión. The National Court Prosecutor's Office of Spain has opened an investigation into the matter and will take statements from the two women who denounced the singer on January 5, represented by the organization Women’s Link. Meanwhile, Julio Iglesias has hired lawyer José Antonio Choclán, with a firm in Madrid who has intervened in several high-profile cases, to face these accusations. The former employees accusing the singer have provided labor documents, photographs, recordings, WhatsApp messages, call logs, and migration permit requests from Julio Iglesias to the governments of Spain, the Bahamas, and the Dominican Republic, according to El Diario.es and Univisión. The accounts of both describe sexual assaults such as non-consensual penetration, slaps, humiliations, and systematic labor abuse against them and other employees. At a press conference in Madrid on Tuesday, the legal team of Women’s Link announced that the Spanish Public Prosecutor's Office will take statements from the accusers. Giovana Ríos, the organization's executive director, revealed that other women who worked for the artist have contacted them, although she avoided mentioning whether they were also allegedly victims of the singer, so she has not provided data to protect their privacy.
