Shakira Begs Paparazzi to Stop Following Her Kids as They Begin “New Life” | “Please Respect Their Right to Privacy”

"I extend this petition not as an artist but as a mother who wishes to protect and care for the psychological and emotional wellbeing of my children," she wrote.

Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Jason Merritt

By Suchitra B

April 11, 2023

Posted April 11, 2023

Shakira is pleading with the paparazzi to stop harassing her children in the aftermath of her split from Gerard Piqué.

The Colombian singer took to Twitter on April 10 asking paparazzi to comprehend that her children, Sasha, 8, and Milan, 10, have had a "difficult year" following her split from the soccer player and their recent relocation from Barcelona to Miami, per TODAY. “In this period of change in my life as a public figure, it's understandable that there is a permanent curiosity on behalf of the press around me and my family," she wrote.

"However, my children Milan and Sasha have endured a very difficult year, suffering incessant harassment and persecution without relief by the paparazzi and several media outlets in Barcelona," she explained.

Respected friends, journalists, and media outlets… pic.twitter.com/FrmTi6EoPz
— Shakira (@shakira) April 10, 2023

As her kids try to begin a "new life," Shakira tweeted in both Spanish and English, "I implore the media on behalf of my children to please respect their right to privacy. I beg you to abstain from following them to the entrance and exit of their school, wait for them at the door of our home, or follow them to their extracurricular and recreational activities as the media did in Barcelona with the intent of capturing photos or boosting ratings."

Shakira pleaded with the media to treat her children "in the most humane way possible, keeping in mind that this is about the physical and emotional health and safety" of the young ones, who "only want to be able to go out in public and attend school feeling safe and tranquil that they aren't being followed or subjected to the constant scrutiny of cameras."

Cover Image Source: Getty Images | David Ramos — Image Source: Getty Images | David Ramos

The Hips Don't Lie singer concluded, "I extend this petition not as an artist but as a mother who wishes to protect and care for the psychological and emotional wellbeing of my children so they may live a happy and healthy life, as all children deserve to do."

Shakira and Piqué had previously issued a joint request for privacy for their kids in June 2022, per TODAY, “We regret to confirm that we are separating. For the well-being of our children, who are our highest priority, we request respect for privacy. Thank you for your understanding.”

A few months later, in an interview with ELLE, Shakira talked about the "incredibly difficult" fallout for her family. "I have paparazzi camping outside, in front of my house, 24/7. And there’s not a place where I can hide from them with my kids, except for my own house," she told the publication. "You know, we can’t take a walk in the park like a regular family or go have an ice cream or do any activity without paparazzi following us. So it’s hard."