Shakira and her longtime boyfriend, Gerard Piqué, have officially split after 11 years together. The couple share two sons, Milan, 9, and Sasha, 7. In a joint statement released on Saturday, June 4, they shared that ensuring the “well-being” of their children is their number one priority at this time.
“We regret to confirm that we are separating,” the couple’s statement reads, as reported by People. “We ask for privacy at this moment for the well-being of our children, who are our maximum priority. Thank you in advance for your understanding and respect.”
Shakira first met the FC Barcelona star on the set of her music video for “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),” which was the official song for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. However, the singer and the soccer star didn’t officially confirm their relationship until March 2011. Since then, they’ve mostly kept their romance out of the spotlight. Occasionally, they would walk red carpets together, and Shakira often brought their sons to Piqué’s soccer matches over the years, but for the most part, they kept their personal life private.
The place where fans most often glimpsed Shakira and Piqué together was on social media. As recently as February, the pop singer wished Piqué a happy Valentine’s Day on her Instagram. Meanwhile, Piqué last shared a photo with Shakira on his Instagram in December 2021.
Shakira and Piqué haven’t shared any details about their split beyond their public statement. However, the “Hips Don’t Lie” singer’s new song with Rauw Alejandro, “Te Felicito,” has fans speculating that it’s about her ex. Some of the lyrics translate to: “For completing you I broke into pieces / They warned me, but I did not pay attention / I realised that yours is false / It was the drop that overflowed the glass.”
The pop star has not revealed whether or not the song is about Piqué. At the moment, she’s not only dealing with her separation, but also with ensuring her father is healthy after a recent fall. Shortly after her split from Piqué was confirmed, the “Whenever, Wherever” singer asked her fans to send their “best wishes” to her father as he recovers. “Please do send all your best wishes his way and thank you all as always for all of your love & support,” she tweeted in part.
