Julio Iglesias Sues Spanish Vice President for Defamation and Demands 50,000 Euros in Damages

Spanish singer Julio Iglesias has filed a defamation lawsuit in Spain's Supreme Court against Vice President Yolanda Díaz, seeking 50,000 euros in damages for what his legal team characterizes as an illegitimate intrusion into his right to honor and privacy. The case centers on public statements Díaz made through social media and broadcast television in January regarding allegations against the performer that a Spanish prosecutor subsequently dismissed due to jurisdictional concerns.

The Dispute

Díaz made her remarks after a news outlet revealed that two former employees had filed a complaint against Iglesias alleging sexual abuse, human trafficking for forced labor, and related workplace violations. On the social media platform Bluesky, Díaz wrote publicly about "chilling testimonies" from Iglesias's former household workers, describing "sexual abuse and a situation of slavery with a power structure based on permanent aggression." She also commented on the same allegations during an appearance on a Spanish state television program.

Iglesias's legal representatives contend that these statements, made by a senior government official, constituted prejudicial declarations of guilt that damaged his public reputation. They argue that Díaz should publicly retract her comments, acknowledge the violation of his rights, and pay the claimed indemnification along with legal costs. The matter escalated when Díaz declined to retract her statements during a mandatory reconciliation proceeding conducted in late May.

Parallel Legal Actions

Simultaneously, Iglesias has filed a separate complaint in Madrid courts against journalists and leadership at the news outlet that initially reported the allegations. The complaint accuses them of defamation and violation of moral integrity, asserting that their coverage contained false and injurious statements designed to undermine his public standing. The initial complaint against Iglesias was ultimately archived by Spain's National Prosecution office, which determined it lacked the proper jurisdiction to pursue charges.