Shakira and Gerard Piqué.Photo: Bruce Glikas/WireImage
Shakiraand her partnerGerard Piquéare taking time apart.
“We regret to confirm that we are separating,” the couple said in a joint statement Saturday. “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.”
The couple — who share two sons,Milan, 9, andSasha, 7 — firstconfirmed their relationshipin March 2011. They met on the set of her music video for “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),” which served as the official song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Milan, Shakira, Sasha and Gerard Piqué.James Devaney/Getty
The news of their separation comes after the Spanish news outletEl Periodicoreported that the soccer player, 35, is living in his house in Barcelona again — and away from Shakira, 45, and the kids.
Fans are also taking note of the lyrics to Shakira’s newest song with Rauw Alejandro, titled “Te Felecito.”
For more on Shakira and Gerard Piqué’s split, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day.
“For completing you I broke into pieces/They warned me, but I did not pay attention,” she sings. “I realized that yours is false/It was the drop that overflowed the glass/Do not tell me you’re sorry, that seems sincere, but I know you well and I know you lie.”
In February during an appearance on the podcastPlanet Weirdo with Holly H, she said that because of their different upbringing, the former coupledidn’t see eye to eye on punctuality— which in turn led to arguments.
The couple did alsocelebrate Valentine’s Day togetherthis year, and Shakira shared a photo to mark the occasion on social media.
Through the years, the couple would make sporadic red carpet appearances together and Shakira wouldsupport him at his soccer games— oftentimes bringing the kids along.
In August 2020, Piquéshared a family photo from their trip to the Maldivesand captioned it “Family Time.”
In May 2017 — just as she released her album,El Dorado— Shakira and Piqué were spotted with their sons having a family-filled Memorial Day weekend in Boston, taking in the sights of the city’s downtown area and dining atAntico Fornoon the popular Salem Street.
Dressed casually in baseball hats, the family sat near the brick oven and enjoyed what looked like a “quiet and cozy meal.”
“They were very polite and kept to themselves,” a restaurant rep told PEOPLE at the time.
Earlier in the day, the family hit up theNew England Aquariumon Central Wharf, where they checked out the diverse animal exhibits, which feature penguins, turtles and sea lions. Later they hopped aboard aBoston Duck Tourfor an 80-minute narrated journey that takes guests over both land and sea, checking out spots like Boston Common, the Charles River and theSwan Boats.
“Shakira is very beautiful,“a fellow tourist on the boat told PEOPLE. “They seemed to be happy and their children are adorable.”
source: people.com
