Reggaeton star Daddy Yankee in court, says wife embezzled $100 mn / Photo: © AFP
Reggaeton star Daddy Yankee in court, says wife embezzled $100 mn
Reggaeton superstar Daddy Yankee turned heads Friday when he faced off in a Puerto Rico court against his estranged wife, whom he accuses of embezzling tens of millions of dollars from his companies.
Daddy Yankee, who shot to global fame in 2004 with his monster hit "Gasolina," told reporters he was "very calm" as he arrived at the courthouse in San Juan.
"These things happen," said the "Despacito" rapper and singer, wearing a black suit, shirt and tie.
The legal saga pitting Daddy Yankee -- whose real name is Ramon Ayala Rodriguez -- against wife Mireddys Gonzalez began last week, shortly after the couple announced on social media their plans to divorce after 29 years of marriage.
The 47-year-old singer has filed a motion against Gonzalez and her sister Ayeicha Gonzalez, alleging that the pair withdrew $80 million without his authorization from an account belonging to his company El Cartel Records.
He also says they took $20 million more from Los Cangris, another of his business ventures.
Gonzalez is currently the president of El Cartel Records.
Daddy Yankee is asking the court for full control of the companies that he created, as well as access to bank accounts and the handover of all corporate information that they have "illegitimately withheld."
According to court documents, he also has asked for "immediate removal" of his wife and sister-in-law "from any function or interference in the corporations as officers or administrators."
Daddy Yankee's attorney Carlos Diaz Olivo told the hearing that the musician could not continue his career without having access to all accounts and company documents.
Gonzalez's legal team denied that the sisters stole $100 million.
Her attorney Luis Sanchez Betances claimed that indeed, a $100 million "dividend" was split equally between the accounts of Daddy Yankee and Gonzalez.
The couple, one of the longest-lasting in the Latin music scene, has three daughters, and is settling their divorce in a separate court.
Daddy Yankee did a massive farewell tour in 2023 and said he was retiring from music, but released a handful of singles this year.
(Y.Ignatiev--DTZ)
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