Iglesias has been accused by two former employees of sexual assault.
The alleged instances of assault came to light recently following a three-year joint investigation by Spanish TV network Univision Noticias and Spanish news site elDiario.es (as per The Guardian). Both spoke to and collected testimonies from 15 of the singer’s former employees.
The two women who have come forward allege that they were subjected to “inappropriate touching, insults and humiliation” while working for the Spanish singer, and claim that the assaults took place in 2021.
One of the women is referred to as “Rebecca” to protect her identity, and alleged that the then-77 year old would call her into his room at the end of her shift and touch her inappropriately without her consent. She also claims that the instances usually took place in the presence of another employee, and made her feel “like a slave”.
The second woman, going by the alias “Laura”, alleged that she was kissed on the mouth and groped by Iglesias without consent. Both Laura and Rebecca also cited that there was “an atmosphere of control and constant harassment” for employees, and accused the singer of “normalis[ing] abuse”.
In elDiario.es’s report, it wrote that the interviews with the former staff members “describe the women’s conditions of isolation, labour disputes, the hierarchical structure of the staff, and the tense atmosphere created by Iglesias’s short-tempered character”.
No podían tener novio
Prohibidas las fotografías en la casa
Debían entregar el móvil para revisar conversaciones
Prohibido hablar con otros empleados
Las normas que, según sus exempleadas, Julio Iglesias les imponía https://t.co/4xLx4KqOre
— elDiario.es (@eldiarioes) January 13, 2026
It also reported that the two women were “interviewed repeatedly over more than a year and their accounts remained consistent throughout”, and claimed that “their statements are supported by extensive documentary evidence, such as photographs, call logs, WhatsApp messages, visas, medical reports and other documents.”
In the report, former employees also claimed that the recruitment process was aimed at young women, and applicants were required to share photos of their faces and full bodies. Both Rebecca and Laura also alleged that Iglesias asked them inappropriate questions about their sexual preferences shortly after they arrived.
Both women have filed a formal complaint, accusing the 82-year-old singer of human trafficking and sexual assault.
Univision Noticias and elDiario.es both state that they made numerous attempts to contact Iglesias for comment via email, phone, letter, and via his lawyer, but received no response.
Las mujeres violadas y atacadas están en Irán, con el silencio cómplice de la ultraizquierda.
La Comunidad de Madrid jamás contribuirá al desprestigio de los artistas y menos, al del cantante más universal de todos: Julio Iglesias.
— Isabel Díaz Ayuso (@IdiazAyuso) January 13, 2026
The woman whom Rebecca claimed was present during some of the instances of harassment dismissed the allegations, and told the outlet that she only had “gratitude, admiration and respect for the great artist and human being that he is”. She also described the singer as “humble, generous, a great gentleman, and very respectful to all women”.
As reported by The Guardian, the president of the Madrid region, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, also defended Iglesias and said on X/Twitter: “The region of Madrid will never contribute to the discrediting of artists and still less so when it comes to the most universal of all singers: Julio Iglesias.”
Spain’s labour minister, Yolanda Díaz, however, described the claims by the two women as “chilling” and said that their accounts had described “sexual assaults and a situation of slavery”.
For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.
The post Julio Iglesias accused by former employees of sexual assault appeared first on NME.
