Shakira Breaks Her Silence on ‘Incredibly Difficult’ Gerard Pique Split, Slams ‘Fictional’ Tax Evasion Claims

usmagazine.com:

Setting the record straight. Shakira broke her silence on her split from ex Gerard Piqué — and addressed her ongoing tax evasion case in Spain.“This is really hard to talk about personally, especially as this is the first time I’ve ever addressed this situation in an interview,” the “She Wolf” songstress, 45, explained in an interview with Elle published on Wednesday, September 21. “I’ve remained quiet and just tried to process it all. … It’s hard to talk about it, especially because I’m still going through it, and because I’m in the public eye and because our separation is not like a regular separation.”The pop star and the soccer player, 35, called it quits in June after 12 years together. “We regret to confirm that we are separating,” the duo said in a joint statement at the time. “For the wellbeing of our children, who are our highest priority, we ask that you respect their privacy.”The Grammy winner noted that the breakup has been particularly hard for the pair’s sons, Milan, 9, and Sasha, 7.“It’s been tough not only for me, but also for my kids,” the “Hips Don’t Lie” singer told the outlet. “Incredibly difficult. … I’ve tried to conceal the situation in front of my kids.

I try to do it and to protect them, because that’s my number one mission in life. But then they hear things in school from their friends or they come across some disagreeable, unpleasant news online, and it just affects them, you know?”Last month, Piqué was spotted packing on the PDA with Clara Chía at a concert in Spain.

An insider exclusively told Us Weekly at the time that Shakira was “heartbroken” over the photos. “She is happy to have her kids to lean on as this is a tough time for her,” the source added.The Colombia native didn’t address the