Spanish tenor Placido Domingo, accused in the United States of sexual harassment by twenty women, asked their forgiveness by saying "Sincerely sorry for the suffering caused", in a press release published Tuesday, February 25.
"I want them to know that I am sincerely sorry for the pain I have caused them. I accept all responsibility for my actions ", said the 79-year-old opera singer, who has so far firmly denied accusations against him.
In an investigation published in August 2019 by the Associated Press agency, nine women claimed to have been harassed by the singer from the late 1980s. Associated Press published a second investigation in September, claiming that eleven other women, saying they they, too, were victims.
Canceled performances
In its press release, relayed in Spain by the agency Europa Press, Placido Domingo ensures "Taking the time in recent months to think about the charges" and say "Understand now that some women may have been afraid of speaking honestly because of fear of impact on their career".
Placido Domingo’s request for forgiveness comes the day after a Manhattan jury’s decision to find movie producer Harvey Weinstein guilty of sexual assault and rape, a verdict applauded by the #MeToo movement.
After these accusations of sexual harassment, Placido Domingo had left in October the direction of the Opera of Los Angeles, which he occupied since 2003. He also gave up performing at the Metropolitan Opera of New York, while other operas Americans canceled his performances. However, it continued to occur in Europe.
