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WORLD NEWS Friday 28 February 2020
Plácido Domingo revises apology, as Spain drops more shows

By JOCELYN GECKER and In his Tuesday statement, On Thursday, Madrid's main
ARITZ PARRA Domingo had said: "I re- opera house, Teatro Real,
Associated Press spect that these women said it had scheduled a
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — finally felt comfortable meeting to decide what
Opera star Placido Do- enough to speak out, and to do about Domingo's five
mingo amended his apol- I want them to know that upcoming appearances
ogy to the multiple women I am truly sorry for the hurt in May, but that the singer
who have accused him of that I caused them. I ac- then withdrew from the
sexual misconduct, adding cept full responsibility for my performances. The compa-
several caveats Thursday actions, and I have grown ny added that it "reaffirms
to a statement two days from this experience." its policy of zero tolerance
earlier in which he said he Domingo's spokeswoman, of harassment and abuse
took "full responsibility" for Nancy Seltzer, offered no of any kind, and its perma-
his actions. immediate comment when nent solidarity with the vic-
In a statement on his Face- asked how to reconcile the tims."
book page, posted as dual statements. The announcement came In this Aug. 28, 2019 file photo, opera star Placido Domingo
several European concert The star's initial statement as other Spanish public in- salutes spectators at the end of a concert in Szeged, Hungary.
halls moved to cancel his came in response to the stitutions and theaters sev- Associated Press
appearances, the legend- findings of an investigation ered ties with the 79-year-
ary tenor said he wanted by the U.S. union repre- old singer, a native son who said it was calling off two and the Palau de les Arts,
"to correct the false im- senting opera performers, has long been a source of mid-May performances a publicly funded, state-
pression generated by my which found the star had pride for many in the coun- by Domingo at Madrid's of-the-art opera house in
apology." behaved inappropriately try. Teatro de la Zarzuela light the eastern Spanish city of
"My apology was sincere over the course of two de- Many commentators, poli- opera house. The ministry Valencia, said that, "in line
and heartfelt, to any col- cades when he held senior ticians and fellow artists in said that "given the serious- with the values of the in-
league who I have made management positions at Spain had defended Do- ness of the deeds," it was stitution," it would strip the
to feel uncomfortable, or Washington National Op- mingo, as did concert halls acting "in solidarity with tenor's name from its popu-
hurt in any manner, by any- era and Los Angeles Op- across Europe, even as U.S. women affected" to take lar training program for op-
thing I have said or done," era. companies swiftly moved a stand against sexual ha- era singers. It also ruled out
he wrote. "But I know what His words set off a backlash to cancel performances rassment. any future contracts with
I have not done, and I'll in Spain, which became and sever ties with the sing- More cancellations fol- Domingo.
deny it again. I have never the first country in Europe er in the wake of the ha- lowed Thursday. A musical "The institution considers
behaved aggressively to- to cancel on the megastar rassment allegations. association in the Spanish that any conduct against
ward anyone, and I have since the sexual harass- The first to take action in city of Úbeda said it was the integrity of women,
never done anything to ment allegations surfaced Spain was the government canceling Domingo's May whether moral, sexual ... is
obstruct or hurt anyone's last year in two stories by itself. On Wednesday, the 3 performance in light of intolerable," a statement
career." The Associated Press. Spanish Culture Ministry the week's developments, said.q

France's former Prime Minister Francois Fillon, center, and his
wife Penelope, leave the Paris courthouse, in Paris, Monday,
Feb. 24, 2020.
Associated Press
Ex-French prime minister denies

wrongdoing in fraud trial

By N. VAUX-MONTAGNY In his first statement to the
and S. CORBET court, Fillon said he had
Associated Press already been sentenced
PARIS (AP) — Former by the “media court.”
French Prime Minister Fran- “The goal was clear: To
cois Fillon said Thursday prevent me from running
that he wants to “make in normal conditions in the
the truth be known” at his presidential election,” Fil-
fraud trial in Paris. Fillon is lon said. “Damages are
facing charges after he irreparable.”
used public funds to pay French media broke the
his wife and children for scandal in January 2017,
work they allegedly never just three months before
performed. a presidential election in
Fillon, 65, has denied which Fillon was consid-
wrongdoing. ered the front-runner.q