The first lead arrived in January 2023, bringing with it two certainties: this would be an extraordinarily difficult investigation with no guarantee of publication, and it was a story that had to be pursued. It involved allegations of sexual abuse and labor exploitation linked to one of the world’s most famous entertainers: Julio Iglesias.
The exclusive investigation by elDiario.es y Univision Noticias took nearly three years to report and publish. The resulting cross-platform coverage generated major international impact and sparked conversations across Spain, Latin America, and the United States.
The investigation examines how race, class, migration status, and economic vulnerability can leave women defenseless against immense wealth and power. From the beginning, the investigative team — composed almost entirely of women journalists from Spain, Uruguay, Colombia, and Argentina — understood the risks of confronting someone as powerful as Iglesias. Protecting the victims was the central ethical priority throughout the reporting and production process.
