Colombian music sensation Shakira has criticized Spanish authorities after settling her $15 million tax fraud case. The "Hips Don't Lie" singer spoke out about her legal battle and expressed her frustration with the handling of the case.

In an interview with Spanish newspaper El Mundo, Shakira shared her disappointment, stating, "The most frustrating thing was seeing that a state institution seemed more interested in publicly burning me at the stake than in listening to my reasons." The artist explained that her primary motivation for settling the multimillion-dollar tax evasion battle was to protect her two young sons.

Shakira expressed her desire to leave a legacy for her children, stating, "I want to leave my children the legacy of a woman who explained her reasons calmly and in her own time when she considered it necessary, not when she was forced to." The Grammy-winning singer shares two children, Milan and Sasha, aged 11 and 9 respectively, with her ex-partner, Gerard Piqué.

The artist claimed that authorities attempted to charge her taxes for the past 10 years when she decided to live in Spain in 2015. She argued that this was not a deliberate attempt to evade taxes but rather a misunderstanding of her residency status. Shakira stated, "A person who spends their time touring the world cannot have the intention of being a tax resident in a place just because the person they are in a relationship with at the time lives there."

Shakira also accused Spanish tax authorities of intimidation tactics, threats of jail time, and putting her children's peace of mind at risk. She emphasized that she paid more taxes than she should have and that Spanish authorities had created a hostile environment.

Reflecting on her decision to address the issue publicly, Shakira explained, "The first reason is my children. We have lived in an era marked by a tone of arrogance from the state, but bullying is not the same as giving reasons. Things are not solved by burning one public figure at the stake every year as if it were an Inquisition trial to recover lost prestige."

The charges against Shakira stemmed from allegations that she owed 6.7 million euros ($7.2 million) in taxes on her 2018 income, which the Spanish government claimed she evaded through the use of an offshore company. However, these charges were dropped in May. In November, the artist settled a separate tax evasion issue with the Spanish government, conceding that she owed a tax bill of $15.4 million for the period between 2012 and 2014.

During the trial, Shakira opted to take a deal, despite turning down a previous offer. She was fined 7 million euros ($7.6 million) and received a suspended three-year sentence. Additionally, she was fined 432,000 euros ($472,000). Had she been found guilty, the musician could have faced up to eight years in jail and a fine exceeding $26 million.

Shakira remains determined to move forward, emphasizing her desire to live peacefully again and turn the page on this tumultuous chapter. She concluded, "No one can write my story for me. Just like with my songs, I sing to live peacefully again, to turn the page."

The settlement concludes Shakira's prolonged legal battle with Spanish authorities, allowing her to focus on her music career and her role as a mother to her two sons.