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Shakira Was Acquitted in Her Tax Fraud Case — and Fans Are Celebrating With Hilarious Memes

Shakira was acquitted of tax fraud and awarded €60 million for an overturned fine by Spain’s treasury, leading to tons of fan reactions and memes

By Lucas Villa
Shakira

Buda Mendes/Getty Images

Shakira and her fans have spent the last week rejoicing over her recent legal victory: Following an eight-year battle with Spain’s treasury over tax fraud allegations, Shakira was not only acquitted, but also awarded a hefty judgment sum. Since then, her followers have been having a field day, sharing hilarious memes that celebrate the star cashing in —  proof of mujeres que facturan.

To recap, Spain’s treasury accused Shakira of tax evasion in the country from 2011 and attempted to show that Shakira lived in Spain long enough that year to be considered a tax resident. Yesterday, Spain’s high court found that she had lived in Spain for 163 days in 2011, short of the 183 days that prosecutors tried to prove. Shakira was acquitted of tax fraud and she was also awarded €60 million (about $64 million) for an overturned fine by Spain’s treasury.

“After more than eight years of enduring brutal public targeting, orchestrated campaigns to destroy my reputation, and sleepless nights that ultimately impacted my health and my family’s well-being, the National High Court has finally set the record straight,” Shakira shared in a statement. “There was never any fraud, and the Administration itself could never prove otherwise, simply because it wasn’t true.”

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She had touched on how the case had impacted her in her music: While torching her ex-partner Gerard Piqué in Bizarrap’s global smash “BZRP Music Sessions, Vol. 53,” Shakira brought up Spain’s treasury and sang, “You left me with your mom as a neighbor, the press at my door, and a debt with the treasury / You thought you’d hurt me, but you made me stronger.” Following her recent acquittal, Shakira appeared to celebrate the refund settlement by sharing photos of herself with Rihanna’s “Bitch Better Have My Money” playing in the background. No caption needed.

That’s all fans needed to go off. On X, One fan page shared a video of Shakira flaunting the bills with her face on them from her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran Tour. Others riffed on the name of her famed 1999 album Dónde Están los Ladrones (Where Are The Thieves?).

According to reports, Spain’s treasury will try to appeal the ruling with the country’s Supreme Court. Shakira may not be able to collect money until after the Spanish Supreme Court issues a final ruling, but that hasn’t stopped the memes from coming.

From Rolling Stone US

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