Shakira has declared that she has no 'time or space in her life' for love, four years on from her highly publicised separation from Gerard Piqué. The Colombian pop superstar, aged 49, and the Spanish footballer, 39, who share sons Sasha, 11, and Milan, 13, confirmed their split in June 2022 after she learned of his alleged infidelity.
Focus on Family and Career
While Gerard quickly moved on to date Clara Chia, 27, for three years, Shakira has remained single, stating she is enjoying time with her children and concentrating on her professional life. In an interview with The Times, she said: 'No romance for me for now. There's no space or time in my life for that. My plate is quite full. My kids are my priority. And my career. Strangely enough, I'm in love with my career like I've never been in my life. I'm enjoying my time alone as well.'
Reflecting on the Split
In a rare comment about her breakup, she reflected on going through the 'darkest moment,' which coincided with her father William being hospitalised after a severe fall. Ultimately, she feels stronger for her experiences. She explained: '[I was living through] the darkest moment - when I saw the dissolution of my family. The family that I had dreamt to keep forever. I've been through so much pain, but it has made me perhaps in an unforeseen way a wiser person - or stronger, at least.'
She added: 'They say that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger and it is true. It's amazing to learn that humans have a resilience that we can resort to at any moment in our lives. Sometimes through hardships and through pain is how we discover how strong we can be. Suffering sometimes makes you a better person, makes you value friends and support.'
Lessons from Hardship
Shakira went on to say that she believes there are always lessons to learn from hardship: 'Life sometimes can be a b****, but it's also beautiful and made of light and shadows. So I thank life for every single moment, the bright ones and the dark ones, the people who have made me suffer because they have become my masters who have taught me lessons, very valuable lessons.'
The 'Hips Don't Lie' singer also expressed gratitude towards her ex for the impact he had on her life: 'I will always have that gratitude in my heart for the father of my kids, and [for] turning me into the mother that I am today.'
Post-Split Digs and Legal Victory
In 2022, amid rumours of his cheating after 11 years, Shakira announced their breakup. She has since made references to him in her music, including branding him 'Voldemort'. Meanwhile, Gerard told CNN: 'In the end, the truth or what happens or occurs is not told in the way it was. I cannot control this. The best thing is that in the end I am surrounded by my loved ones, my family, my friends, the people who really know you. They know what you are like and what you do, and that gives me a lot of peace of mind.'
Shakira also recently celebrated a significant legal victory after a lengthy tax-fraud case ended with the Colombian star receiving a €55 million refund. The singer was cleared of alleged fraud relating to a 2011 tax return. She celebrated by sharing a Rihanna lyric on Instagram: 'B***h Better Have My Money'. Shakira had previously confessed to six tax fraud crimes in 2023, accepting a suspended three-year prison sentence and a €7.3 million fine.
