Since the separation of Shakira and Gerard Piqué, which occurred in mid-2022, there have been various different versions on what happened, with rumors aplenty.
However, almost two years later, the Colombian singer has spoken to clarify the matter as part of the release of her next album, called 'Las mujeres ya no lloran', a phrase taken from the collaboration with Bizarrap called 'Music Sessions Vol. 53'. The title translates to 'Women don't cry anymore'.
Shakira's most striking quotes from her Billboard interview
In an interview with the British media, The Times, the Barranquilla-born singer spoke about what has happened in recent months, making various denials.
What happened in Shakira and Piqué's relationship, according to the singer?
In one of the toughest and most sincere answers from 'Shak', she explained what happened between her and the former Barcelona and Spain national team player:
"I put my career on hold for Gerard Piqué. There were many sacrifices for love. For a long time I stopped everything to be by his side so that he could play soccer… For a long time I put my career on pause to be at his side," she said.
And on reflection, having shared a 12-year relationship with 'Geri', the 47-year-old explained the big difference between her life in the music world and what happens with a footballer or top athlete: "Empathy is key in the work of an artist. An athlete is in a constant state of war and has to avoid empathy at all costs. That's why it's probably a very bad idea for an artist to relate to an athlete."
For some people, Shakira monetized and took advantage of the breakup, but her point of view is very different, especially given the process helped her with her creation of music.
"There were so many pieces in my life that fell apart in front of my eyes that I had to somehow rebuild myself, picking up the bones from the ground and putting them all together. And the glue that held it all together was music," said Shakira.
Shakira and the songs about Gerard Piqué, her Voldemort
That character, the most evil villain of the Harry Potter saga who was not mentioned out of fear, has been used in Colombia and many Spanish-speaking countries to refer to those people of whom it is better to refer to.
Today, Shakira is ready to talk about that 'villain' in her story, and that's how she referred to Gerard Piqué, explaining that the 'last' sanctioned mention could be the end of the songs that saw her vent about what she has gone through.
"About Voldemort, the one who cannot be named? I hope this is the last song I write about this, and about him. I felt like there was still something there, stuck in my throat, and I needed to get it out. I played it to the head of marketing at Sony and he started crying. I'd never seen a man cry in my studio before," said Shakira.
That's how she explained the decision to release a new song, after a string of singles and collaborations: 'Te felicito' with Rauw Alejandro, 'Monotonía' with Ozuna, 'Music Sessions Vol. 53' with Bizarrap, 'TQG' (Te Quedé Grande) with Karol G, and 'El Jefe' with Fuerza Regida.
About her new 2024 release, which has those collaborations and a few others with a variety of sounds and songs describing her new life, the Colombian explained to The Times that it is "an emotional, strident and vulnerable mix, which oscillates between pop, rap, reggaeton and ballad… it represents the transformation of pain into creativity, frustration into productivity, anger into passion and vulnerability into resilience".
There has been a lot of criticism surrounding Shakira's decision to take her situation to the public sphere, with songs about her 10-year relationship with Gerard Piqué, which resulted in the birth of her sons Milan and Sasha.
But the singer from Barranquilla explained that external things began to happen, such as Sergio Ramos himself having presented her with a Latin Grammy at the ceremony held in Spain.
To confront the questions against her, she explained that the whole context was "a cosmic joke… (to) exorcize many demons (that were tormenting her)". (to) exorcize many demons (that) were tormenting" furthermore, far from regretting the move, 'Shaki' justified by saying: "I felt good".
Separation of Shakira and Piqué for Milan and Sasha
The interview also threw up a series of questions and criticisms because, according to many, little Milan (11 years old) and Sasha (9 years old) have been left in the middle of the battle between their parents.
But the loving mother has dismissed the claims, discussing leaving Barcelona to live in Miami, and how the family have dealt with all the upheaval: "They know that there is only one way to live life and that is to accept pain. And each of us has different ways of doing that."
