Antonio Banderas has been making headlines after claims of a supposed bankruptcy began to spread like wildfire. Reports suggested that the Spanish actor was facing a financial crisis related to his role as a theater entrepreneur.
Several Spanish publications claimed that his Teatro del Soho CaixaBank, founded in 2019 in his hometown of Málaga, was generating multimillion-euro losses. Amid the speculation, the “Zorro” actor issued a strong statement denying the situation.
© Getty ImagesAntonio Banderas’ situation
Spanish outlets such as Cuore reported that the theater was generating annual losses of more than 2.5 million euros (nearly 3 million dollars). According to the reports, the issues were tied to high staffing costs and maintenance expenses for the venue. On Fiesta (Telecinco), hosted by Emma Gara, it was claimed that the theater was struggling financially and operating at a loss.
© Getty ImagesJournalist Karmele Izaguirre explained on the same TV show that the actor “is not at all worried” about the theater’s financial state because he acquired it to revive the cultural scene in his hometown, not as a business investment.
Antonio Banderas’ statement
“Hello friends. It is discouraging to once again have to explain objectives in my theater projects that I have repeated over and over again. The ruin that certain media outlets claim I am suffering does not exist. I’m sorry for those who might find some pleasure in believing that it does,” his message begins.
© Getty Images“The Teatro del Soho CaixaBank project is one where I have only one goal: to do things the way I believe they should be done and to strive for excellence in our productions, beyond the financial deficit they may involve, which, thank God, I can assume without any problem,” he explained, making it clear that he has the financial means to cover the theater’s expenses.
“That is the agreement I have with my passion for theater, for my city, and with myself. If I had wanted to make money, it would have been very easy. But I chose instead to create large-scale productions, where I have given work to hundreds of people, and I have enjoyed it more than anything else in my career,” the actor added, emphasizing how rewarding it has been to produce major theater shows and create jobs.
© Getty ImagesHe will continue supporting culture through his theater. “The news is that I’m going to keep doing it. I’ve said this in press conferences and countless interviews,” he stated. The Teatro del Soho CaixaBank is a private non-profit company that operates more like a public theater. This means the project does not receive public funding and will not while I am alive. I personally take responsibility for the costs involved in carrying out extremely expensive productions that you would rarely see from companies that must prioritize profit margins.”
“And here I would like to thank the outstanding sponsors who accompany me on this adventure. Last year, including the production that later moved to Madrid, we welcomed nearly 200,000 spectators to the Soho. Over these years, we have managed to break the mold, and we are going to keep doing so. No, my friends, I am not ruined. I’m thriving! And I am dangerously happy! Hasta la vista, babies.”
