Shakira & Gerard Piqué: The Diss Track Heard Around the World

What Happened

Shakira and Barcelona FC defender Gerard Piqué were never legally married, but their 12-year relationship and two sons (Milan and Sasha) made their 2022 separation one of the most closely watched breakups in the world. The split was triggered by Piqué’s alleged affair with a 23-year-old student, Clara Chia Martí, which Shakira reportedly discovered through a jar of jam in their shared refrigerator (she noticed someone had been eating her favorite jam while she was away).

The custody battle was intense. Shakira wanted to relocate with their sons to Miami, Florida, where she had a home and support network. Piqué wanted the children to remain in Barcelona. Under Spanish law, relocation of children abroad requires either both parents’ consent or a court order. After months of negotiations, Piqué agreed to allow the move to Miami.

But Shakira’s most devastating weapon was not a lawyer — it was a song. In January 2023, she released 'BZRP Music Sessions #53' with Argentine producer Bizarrap. The track, which compared Piqué to a Renault Twingo and his new girlfriend to a Casio watch (versus Shakira’s Rolex), became the most-streamed Spanish-language song in Spotify history within 24 hours, accumulating over 4 billion views across platforms.

The song was simultaneously a cultural phenomenon and a legal case study. Piqué’s sponsors reportedly distanced themselves. Casio, however, embraced the mention. Spanish legal experts debated whether the lyrics constituted defamation or harassment. Meanwhile, Shakira also faced a separate legal battle with Spanish tax authorities, eventually agreeing to a €7.5 million settlement for tax fraud charges related to her residency status — a case directly tied to her years living in Barcelona with Piqué.

Legal Breakdown: Unmarried Partner Rights & Custody

What This Means for Your Divorce