Prince William's Earthshot Prize in jeopardy after judges Shakira, Dani Alves step down over legal wrangles
Earthshot Prize, launched by Prince William to support climate and environmental innovators across the world, plunged into disarray after two of its judges were forced to step down amid legal wrangles.
Singer Shakira and footballer Dani Alves have quit as judges for the coveted prize, as per media reports.
Last month, the Colombian pop sensation reached a settlement to avoid a trial in Barcelona over charges she failed to pay 14.5 million euros ($15.7 million) in Spanish income tax between 2012 and 2014. As part of the deal, she accepted the charges and a fine of half the amount owed, more than 7.3 million euros. However, the 46-year-old celebrity is currently facing a second tax fraud inquiry from Spanish authorities.
On September 19, Kensington Palace, in an announcement, named her as a judge.
Meanwhile, Dani Alves — another judge for the Earthshot Prize, is facing trial for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman in a night club in Barcelona last year.
The Brazilian footballer, who initially refuted any sexual involvement with the victim and later asserted that the encounter was consensual, had his contract terminated by the Mexican club UNAM after his arrest. The prosecutor is seeking a restraining order against Alves along with a proposed nine-year prison sentence. Additionally, there is a request for him to compensate the woman with damages totaling £130,500.
The Earthshot Prize is a global competition initiated by Prince William and his Royal Foundation charity in 2020, with the objective of encouraging innovative solutions and technologies to combat global warming and restore the planet. Each winner receives £1 million ($1.2 million) to support
