Inside the "House of Terror": Julio Iglesias Faces Explosive Trafficking and Assault Charges
Inside the "House of Terror": Julio Iglesias Faces Explosive Trafficking and Assault Charges
The pristine, sun-drenched image of the world’s most successful Latin crooner has been shattered. Julio Iglesias, the 82-year-old icon behind hits like "Begin the Beguine," is currently the target of a chilling criminal investigation involving allegations of sexual assault, human trafficking, and "slavery-like" workplace abuse.
The accusations, which surfaced following a multi-year joint investigation by Spain’s elDiario.es and Univision Noticias, have prompted a formal criminal complaint filed with Spain’s highest court, the Audiencia Nacional.
The "Little House of Terror"
The core of the case rests on the harrowing testimonies of two former employees—a domestic worker and a physical therapist who worked at Iglesias's luxury estates in the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas.
One of the women, identified by the pseudonym "Rebecca," described her time at the singer's Punta Cana mansion as a "nightmare." She alleges that starting in 2021, Iglesias subjected her to near-nightly sexual assaults.
“I felt like an object, like a slave in the 21st century,” Rebecca told Univision. “That house should be called the 'little house of terror' because it is something truly horrible.”
The second accuser, "Laura," a Venezuelan physiotherapist, claims she was subjected to constant "normalized abuse," including inappropriate touching and forced kisses. Both women described a suffocating atmosphere of isolation and control where Iglesias reportedly monitored their food intake, insulted their appearances, and used his wealth to ensure their silence.
Allegations of Trafficking
While the sexual assault claims are devastating, it is the human trafficking charge that has sent the most significant shockwaves through the legal community.
The investigative report details a sophisticated recruitment process that allegedly targeted young women via social media. Applicants were reportedly asked for full body photos and, upon arrival at the Caribbean estates, were met with intimate, intrusive questions about their sexual preferences and bodies. Prosecutors are now examining whether this system constitutes a trafficking network designed to supply the aging singer with vulnerable women under the guise of domestic employment.
A "Chilling" National Response
The reaction in Iglesias’s native Spain has been one of profound "consternation." Yolanda Díaz, Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister and Labour Minister, described the testimonies as "chilling," stating they depict a "situation of slavery" that cannot be ignored due to the perpetrator's fame.
In light of the scandal, there are already mounting calls from political groups, including the Más Madrid party, for the singer to be stripped of the various honors and medals bestowed upon him by Spanish regional and city authorities over his five-decade career.
The Singer’s Silence
As of Tuesday afternoon, Julio Iglesias has not issued a public response to the allegations. His legal team has also remained silent, even as judicial sources confirm that preliminary criminal proceedings were initiated following the January 5 filing.
For a man who has sold over 300 million records and came to define the "Latin Lover" archetype for generations, the "House of Terror" investigation represents a potential final act far removed from the romantic ballads that made him a legend.
