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NEED TO KNOW
Julio Iglesias has been accused of sexual and physical assault by two female former employees, according to several outlets
A joint investigation was published by el.Diario.es and Univision Noticias on Jan. 13
The two women released statements about the allegations under pseudonyms
Two female former employees ofJulio Iglesiashave accused the Grammy-winning singer of sexual and physical assault.
On Tuesday, Jan. 13,elDiario.es and Univision Noticiaspublished a joint investigation conducted over three years detailing the allegations from two anonymous women who claimed to have worked at Iglesias' Dominican Republic and Bahamas residences over 10 months in 2021.
The Spanish prosecutors' office has announced they're studying the allegations, according toAssociated Press,ReutersandThe New York Times, after a formal complaint was reportedly filed on Jan. 5.
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According to the elDiario.es and Univision Noticias investigation, the two women claimed they sexual assault and workplace harassment as well as verbal and physical abuse from Iglesias during their time working for him.
Iglesias has not spoken publicly about the allegations. PEOPLE reached out to a contact form on his website. Entertainment lawyer Russell L. King, who lists Iglesias as a client on his website, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
PEOPLE has also reached out to the Spanish prosecutors' office but has not independently verified the claims made in the outlets' joint investigation.
Nongovernmental groupWomen's Link Worldwideannounced it's representing the two women, who went public with the allegations under the pseudonyms Rebeca and Laura. They both shared statements via the organization.
"I am doing this to get justice for three reasons. The first is for myself: for how difficult this process has been and for everything I have had to face in order to overcome it. The second is for the women who work in his homes: I want to tell them to be strong, to raise their voices, to remember that he is not invincible. And the third, for my country [the Dominican Republic]: so that something like this never happens again and so that he understands that he cannot come and do whatever he wants without facing the consequences," wrote Rebeca.
Laura's statement read, "My goal is to ensure that no woman ever suffers this kind of abuse from him again. I want to send the message that women are victims and survivors, not perpetrators or guilty parties."
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According to AP, Spanish government spokeswoman Elma Saiz said the allegations against Iglesias "demanded respect."
"Once again I can reaffirm this government's firm and complete commitment to take on any act of violence, harassment or aggression against women," she added, per the outlet.
Spain's Equality Minister Ana Redondo said in a statement, per Reuters, that Iglesias is "a great singer, but people can have a dark side." She recognized his presumption of innocence but expressed belief in the women's stories, per the outlet.
Iglesias is one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He's won two Grammy Awards and been inducted into the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame. The musician is also father to singer Enrique Iglesias.
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