Shakira Settles Tax Fraud Case in Spain
Shakira settled her tax fraud case with the Spanish government on Monday (November 20). Per Deadline, the singer-songwriter, whose full name is Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, agreed to pay millions…
Shakira attends the 24th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards at FIBES Conference and Exhibition Centre on November 16, 2023 in Seville, Spain.
Juan Naharro Gimenez/Getty ImagesShakira settled her tax fraud case with the Spanish government on Monday (November 20). Per Deadline, the singer-songwriter, whose full name is Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, agreed to pay millions in fines. Shakira will receive a suspended three-year sentence and pay a fine of 7.3 million euros ($8 million). In addition, she will pay another fine of 432,000 euros ($472,000) in exchange for her sentence waived.
As we previously reported, the "Hips Don't Lie" singer failed to pay $15.8 million in taxes between 2012 and 2014. In July 2022, her publicists in London said in a statement that Shakira “has always cooperated and abided by the law, demonstrating impeccable conduct as an individual and a taxpayer.” The publicists accused the Spanish Tax Agency of violating her rights. Shakira’s Spanish public relations team previously claimed that the artist deposited the amount she is said to owe, including 3 million euros in interest. Prosecutors in Barcelona have alleged that the Grammy winner spent more than half of each year between 2012 and 2014 in Spain and should have paid taxes there. The performer alleged that she spent most of her time in her primary residence, the Bahamas.
RELATED: Shakira Stresses Importance of Being ‘Faithful to Ourselves’
The settlement reached today is somewhat of a victory for the singer, as prosecutors wanted her to pay $24 million and serve eight years and two months in prison if she was initially convicted. Per gossip website TMZ, Shakira seemed to be in a good mood when she entered the courthouse, blowing kisses to her fans. Shakira, 46, said in a statement it was "to spare my children seeing their mother sacrifice her well-being." She added, "I admire tremendously those who have fought these injustices to the end, but for me, today, winning is getting my time back for my kids and my career." She's still going after the Spanish government for targeting athletes and other high-profile folks. Despite that, the judge said the fine would end the case.
These Celebrities Speak Another Language Fluently
Some celebrities have made it obvious that they speak another language. Whether it is from a thick accent or speaking in another language in films or music, we can easily tell when someone is multilingual. However, there are some stars we would have never guessed spoke in anything besides their native tongue. The biggest surprise of all is when our favorite actor or musician speaks more than two languages!
Due to their cultural heritage, some stars have picked up a second language due to where their family is from. Others have found a love for language in their travels or a genuine interest in linguistics. Whatever the reason, it is impressive when a person can dedicate themselves to adding another language to their repertoire. If you needed a reason to pick up another language, these celebrities' success is inspiring.
Take a look below at which celebrities can speak two or more languages:
Tom Hiddleston
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for DisneyWEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MAY 22: Tom Hiddleston attends the LOKI FYC Event at the Silver Screen Theatre at the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles, CA on May 22, 2022. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)
Mila Kunis
Momodu Mansaray/Getty ImagesLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 12: Mila Kunis attends FOX's "Family Guy" 400th Episode Celebration at Fox Studio Lot on November 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Momodu Mansaray/Getty Images)
Timothée Chalamet
Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for BFILONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 08: Timothée Chalamet attends the "Bones & All" premiere during the 66th BFI London Film Festival at The Royal Festival Hall on October 08, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for BFI)
Lupita Nyong'o
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Gotham Film & Media InstituteNEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 28: Lupita Nyong'o attends The 2022 Gotham Awards at Cipriani Wall Street on November 28, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Gotham Film & Media Institute)
Sebastian Stan
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 15: Sebastian Stan attends the 28th Annual Critics Choice Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on January 15, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Salma Hayek
Arturo Holmes/Getty ImagesHOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 12: Salma Hayek attends the 95th Annual Academy Awards on March 12, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images )
Bradley Cooper
Jamie McCarthy/Getty ImagesNEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 02: Bradley Cooper attends The 2022 Met Gala Celebrating "In America: An Anthology of Fashion" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 02, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Sandra Bullock
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 21: Sandra Bullock attends the Los Angeles premiere of Paramount Pictures' "The Lost City" at Regency Village Theatre on March 21, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Ben Affleck
Jon Kopaloff/Getty ImagesLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Ben Affleck attends Amazon Studios' World Premiere Of "AIR" at Regency Village Theatre on March 27, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)
Michelle Yeoh
Arturo Holmes/Getty ImagesHOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 12: Michelle Yeoh attends the 95th Annual Academy Awards on March 12, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images )
Jackie Chan
Jamie McCarthy/Getty ImagesNEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 22: Jackie Chan signs copies of his new book "Never Grow Up" at Barnes & Noble, 5th Avenue on January 22, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Natalie Portman
Jon Kopaloff/Getty ImagesLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 23: Natalie Portman attends Marvel Studios "Thor: Love And Thunder" Los Angeles Premiere at El Capitan Theatre on June 23, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)
Leonardo DiCaprio
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for NetflixNEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 05: Leonardo DiCaprio attends the "Don't Look Up" World Premiere at Jazz at Lincoln Center on December 05, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Netflix)
Shakira
Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty ImagesCANNES, FRANCE - MAY 25: Shakira attends the screening of "Elvis" during the 75th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals on May 25, 2022 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images)
Oscar Isaac
Jamie McCarthy/Getty ImagesNEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 23: Oscar Isaac attends "The Sign In Sidney Brustein's Window" Opening Night at BAM Harvey Theater on February 23, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Celine Dion
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty ImagesPARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 29: Celine Dion attends miu miu club event at Hippodrome d'Auteuil on June 29, 2019 in Paris, France.(Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
Hugh Jackman
Jeremy Chan/Getty ImagesTORONTO, ONTARIO - SEPTEMBER 12: Hugh Jackman attends "The Son" Premiere during the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival at Roy Thomson Hall on September 12, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Jeremy Chan/Getty Images)
Dua Lipa
Jon Kopaloff/Getty ImagesWEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 09: Dua Lipa attends the Versace FW23 Show at Pacific Design Center on March 09, 2023 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)
Bruno Mars
Rich Fury/Getty Images for The Recording AcademyLAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 03: Bruno Mars of Silk Sonic performs onstage during the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 03, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Lady Gaga
Arturo Holmes/Getty ImagesHOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 12: Lady Gaga attends the 95th Annual Academy Awards on March 12, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images )
Phil Collins
Chris Jackson/Getty ImagesLONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 18: To celebrate the launch of his autobiography Not Dead Yet, Phil Collins poses ahead of a talk at St James Church on October 18, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Selena Gomez
Jon Kopaloff/Getty ImagesBEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 10: Selena Gomez attends the 80th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton on January 10, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)
Jodie Foster
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty ImagesCANNES, FRANCE - JULY 06: Jodie Foster attends the opening ceremony gala dinner of the 74th annual Cannes Film Festival on July 06, 2021 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
SZA
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/VogueNEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 02: SZA attends The 2022 Met Gala Celebrating "In America: An Anthology of Fashion" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 02, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)
Gwyneth Paltrow
Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesBEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 25: Gwyneth Paltrow attends Veuve Clicquot Celebrates 250th Anniversary with Solaire Exhibition on October 25, 2022 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Anya Taylor-Joy
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 15: Anya Taylor-Joy attends the 28th Annual Critics Choice Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on January 15, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
