Two former employees of Julio Iglesias have accused the Spanish entertainer of sexually assaulting them while they worked in his luxurious residences in the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas in 2021, according to an exclusive joint investigation by elDiario.es and Univision Noticias.
The women, identified with the pseudonyms Rebeca and Laura to protect their identities, describe a working environment marked by constant control, humiliation, fear, and sexual coercion.
“Treated like a slave”
Rebeca, who was 22 years old at the time, worked as domestic staff and says she was repeatedly summoned to Iglesias’ bedroom at night, where, according to her account, the then 77-year-old singer penetrated her vaginally and anally with his fingers without her consent, slapped her forcefully, and subjected her to verbal and physical humiliation. She describes feeling “like an object, like a slave” and states that these encounters occurred “almost every night” over several months.
Laura, who worked as a physiotherapist, reports that Iglesias kissed her on the mouth and touched her breasts without consent on several occasions, including at the beach and by the pool of the Punta Cana villa. Both women say the alleged abuse took place in the context of a highly hierarchical household structure in which senior female staff members (referred to as “managers” or “jefas”) not only knew about the situation but, according to Rebeca, actively facilitated and sometimes participated in the sexual demands.
3-year investigation into alleged abuse
The investigation, which has lasted three years so far, included interviews with 15 former employees who worked for Iglesias between the late 1990s and 2023 in his properties in the Dominican Republic, Bahamas, and Spain. While not all described sexual assault, multiple accounts coincided in portraying an atmosphere of isolation, intense surveillance, and psychological pressure. Former workers say Iglesias imposed strict rules, including bans on taking photos, socialising with other staff, or leaving the property, often justified by pandemic-related health concerns, even when government restrictions had eased.
Women were recruited through social media advertisements targeting young females (25–35 years old) offering live-in positions with relatively low pay. Applicants were asked to send full-body photos before any in-person interview took place. Once hired, many say they faced intrusive personal questions about their sexual preferences, breast augmentation, and intimate life, as well as repeated sexual propositions.
Living in constant fear
Both women who reported assaults say they lived in constant fear of dismissal and were reminded that working for Iglesias was a unique privilege. Rebeca says she was told she was “lucky” to be there and had no right to refuse him. The investigation obtained supporting documentation, including medical records, visas, WhatsApp messages, call logs, and photographs showing bruises and bite marks that Rebeca attributes to the alleged abuse.
Journalists from elDiario.es and Univision Noticias say they have contacted Julio Iglesias, his legal representatives, his wife Miranda Rijnsburger, and the two main household managers mentioned in the testimonies on multiple occasions through email, phone, and certified letters delivered to residences. No responses were received.
One of the former managers dismissed the accusations as “nonsense” (“patrañas”) and described Iglesias as a “humble, generous, great gentleman” who is “very respectful with all women.” She claimed to have worked for him for many years as a dancer.
The two women who reported sexual assault received independent legal counselling from an international human rights organisation after expressing fear about coming forward.
The news outlet stresses that the testimonies of Rebeca and Laura remained consistent over more than a year of interviews and are supported by substantial documentary evidence.
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