Shakira Launches European Tour in Spain Amid Tax Case Resolution
The Colombian superstar began her 'Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran' World Tour in Madrid, marking her return to the Spanish capital after an eight-year hiatus and recent legal victories.
Shakira commenced her 12-night European residency in Spain on Friday night, performing in Madrid for the first time in eight years as part of her "Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran" World Tour. A temporary stadium, Estadio Shakira, was constructed within the Iberdrola Music space in Villaverde for the event.
During the two-hour concert, the 49-year-old singer captivated the audience of 55,000 with renditions of hits including "Hips Don't Lie," "Girl Like Me," and "Te felicito." She showcased multiple costume changes, appearing in a purple sequin minidress, a paisley pattern jumpsuit, and a skintight catsuit for her performance of "She Wolf."
"I can’t believe I’m here. It all feels like a dream," Shakira told the crowd. "Having you here again tonight, you don’t know how happy it makes me because it’s proof of the love and affection you’ve given me all these years."
This tour launch follows a period of legal challenges for the singer in Spain. In May, Shakira was awarded a €55 million refund after a tax fraud case concerning her 2011 tax return concluded. Authorities were unable to prove she had spent the minimum 183 days in Spain that year to be liable for Spanish taxes. The Audiencia Nacional Court ruled that her stay amounted to 163 days, and that the administration failed to prove she had her center of economic interests or family ties in Spain.
Despite this victory, Shakira had previously confessed to six tax fraud crimes in 2023 related to the years 2012, 2013, and 2014. As part of a plea bargain, she accepted a suspended three-year prison sentence and a €7.3 million fine. At the time of that agreement, Shakira accused Spanish authorities of "publicly burning her at the stake."
Following her split from former Barcelona footballer Gerard Pique, Shakira relocated to Miami in 2023 with her two children. She previously stated that the legal proceedings had negatively impacted her health and her family's well-being, asserting that "there was never any fraud, and the Administration itself was never able to prove otherwise."