Shakira Overwhelmed as She Receives 21-Foot Bronze Statue in Colombia: ‘This Is Truly Heartfelt
Shakira conveyed her appreciation to her birthplace of Barranquilla, Colombia, for commemorating her with a 21-foot-tall bronze statue that resembles her.
The 46-year-old superstar responded to this significant achievement on Tuesday by posting pictures of her parents, William Mebarak Chadid and Nidia del Carmen Ripoll Torrado, standing next to the imposing sculpture.
In her Instagram caption, she expressed her joy in sharing this moment with her parents, especially her mother, on her birthday. She remarked, “This overwhelms my heart with gratitude.
The sculpture, portraying her wearing a bikini top and a flowing skirt while moving her hips in a manner reminiscent of her iconic 2005 music video “Hips Don’t Lie,” is located near the waterfront in Barranquilla, her hometown where she spent her formative years.
n inscription on the statue bears the message: ‘A heart that creates music, hips that speak the truth, unparalleled talent, a voice that inspires multitudes, and feet that stride for the betterment of children and humanity.
This accomplishment follows a challenging period, including the conclusion of her 11-year relationship with Gerard Piqué and her father’s hospitalization twice in 2022.
Just last month, the renowned artist behind “Waka Waka” criticized Spanish authorities for singling out ‘prominent figures,’ as she was saddled with a £6.4 million fine in addition to a £15 million tax liability for financial irregularities.
Shakira received a substantial monetary penalty as part of an arrangement that enables her to avoid imprisonment and brings an early conclusion to an extended fraud lawsuit in Barcelona, preempting its commencement.
The singer, whose estimated net worth is approximately £240 million, maintained her innocence but stated that she chose to ‘shield my children from witnessing their mother compromising her welfare.’
In a statement, she expressed her deep admiration for those who have vigorously battled such injustices, but for her, prevailing means reclaiming her time for her children and her career today.
She also criticized the Spanish authorities for targeting her, asserting that her situation was reminiscent of instances where authorities have pursued ‘athletes and other prominent figures.’ She argued that such cases deplete the energy, time, and peace of mind of those individuals over extended periods.
As part of the agreement disclosed in court today, the singer will face a £6.4 million (€7.3 million) fine for the six tax fraud offenses she admitted to, which is significantly less than the amount sought by prosecutors, amounting to less than a third of their original demand.
She had already reimbursed the taxes that Spanish authorities had accused her of evading, which amounted to nearly £15 million (€17 million) when factoring in interest. Additionally, to avoid incarceration, she will be required to pay a fine of £378,000 (€432,000).
Following the announcement of the settlement, a statement issued by her representatives quoted the singer as saying: ‘Throughout my career, I have consistently aimed to do what is ethically right and set a positive example for others.
‘This often entails taking extra measures in both business and personal financial decisions to secure the most sound advice, including seeking counsel from the world’s leading tax authorities, PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited and Ernst & Young Global Limited, who have been advising me throughout this entire process.
‘Unfortunately, despite these endeavors, the Spanish tax authorities pursued a case against me, just as they have with numerous professional athletes and other high-profile individuals, causing these individuals to expend their energy, time, and peace of mind over protracted periods.
While I was determined to assert my innocence and believed that my legal team would secure a favorable verdict in a trial, I have ultimately chosen to bring this matter to a close, keeping the best interests of my children in mind. They do not wish to witness their mother jeopardizing her personal well-being in this legal battle,” she remarked.
“I need to move beyond the stress and emotional toll of the past few years and concentrate on the things I hold dear – my children and the exciting opportunities ahead in my career, including my upcoming world tour and my forthcoming album, both of which I am incredibly enthusiastic about. I hold immense respect for those who have fought relentlessly against such injustices, but for me, winning today means reclaiming my time for my children and my career.”
The case was poised to revolve around the duration of time the singer, known for hit singles like ‘Hips Don’t Lie,’ ‘Whenever, Wherever,’ and the 2010 World Cup anthem ‘Waka Waka,’ spent in Spain from 2012 to 2014.
Spanish authorities contended that Shakira, often referred to as the Queen of Latin Pop, had spent more than half of that timeframe in Spain and, as a result, should have fulfilled her tax obligations in the country.
According to their assertions, she relocated to Spain after her public relationship with former FC Barcelona star defender Gerard Pique commenced in 2011. However, she maintained her official tax residency in the Bahamas until 2015.
The prosecution’s indictment alleged that Shakira had ‘utilized a network of companies’ located in tax havens, all with the purpose of evading tax payments in Spain.
Shakira’s name appeared in the ‘Paradise Papers’ disclosures, which outlined the offshore tax arrangements of numerous notable individuals, including music icons like Madonna and U2’s Bono.
The legal team representing Shakira, the Barcelona-based firm Molins Defensa Penal, stated in November 2022 that during the specified period, she had not stayed in the country for more than 60 days per year. They contended that in order to be considered a fiscal resident, she would have needed to reside in Spain for half of the year.
Her defense asserted that she led a ‘nomadic lifestyle,’ spending prolonged periods away from Barcelona while on a global tour in 2011 and dedicating substantial time in the United States as a member of the jury for the NBC television music talent show, The Voice.
Shakira’s attorneys maintained that she only permanently relocated to Barcelona shortly before the birth of her second child in January 2015.
In an interview with Elle magazine in 2022, Shakira stated, ‘I’ve settled all the amounts they claimed I owed, even before they initiated legal proceedings. As of today, I have no outstanding debts to them.
Spanish prosecutors held a differing opinion, and in 2021, the investigating judge, Marco Juberías, stated at the culmination of a three-year inquiry into the allegations that he identified ‘adequate proof of wrongdoing’ to warrant the case proceeding to trial.
In 2019, Shakira maintained her innocence during questioning by Juberías.
Last year, she was unsuccessful in her attempt to have the case dismissed through an appeal.
The prosecution had been pursuing a sentence of eight years and two months in prison, accompanied by a fine of nearly 24 million euros for the singer.
Shakira’s public relations agency stated that she had already settled her entire debt of 14.5 million euros, along with an additional 3 million euros (equivalent to approximately £2.6 million) in interest.
When you add this to the 7.6 million euro fine and the 432,000 euros required to avoid imprisonment, the total comes to approximately 25.5 million euros. This means she will have reimbursed slightly more than the sum sought by prosecutors when everything is taken into account.
Shakira declined a settlement offer presented to her by prosecutors in July 2022, asserting through her Spanish public relations firm, Llorente y Cuenca, that she ‘maintains her belief in her innocence and opts to entrust the matter to the legal system.’
The specifics of the potential settlement were not disclosed publicly.
