The world watched in disbelief when Colombian superstar Shakira and Spanish football legend Gerard Piqué announced their separation in June 2022, ending an 11-year relationship that had fans globally. What began as a fairy-tale romance on the set of the 2010 FIFA World Cup anthem “Waka Waka” transformed into one of the most publicized celebrity breakups in recent memory, complete with viral diss tracks, custody battles, and explosive revelations.
Their relationship had always seemed unshakeable—two global icons who had built a life together in Barcelona, raising two sons while balancing demanding careers in entertainment and professional sports. Shakira had famously relocated from her native Colombia to Spain, putting her career “in second gear” to support Piqué’s football ambitions at FC Barcelona. The couple never married, with Shakira once admitting that “marriage scares the hell out of me,” preferring the unpredictability of being seen as a girlfriend rather than a wife.
However, beneath the glamorous exterior, cracks had been forming for years. The separation wasn’t just a private matter—it became a public spectacle involving allegations of infidelity, financial disputes, and emotional betrayal that played out across social media, music releases, and international headlines. As Shakira herself revealed, she learned of Piqué’s alleged betrayal “through the press” while her father was fighting for his life in the ICU, making an already devastating situation even more traumatic.
The Beginning: A World Cup Love Story
Shakira and Gerard Piqué (Image via Getty)
Meeting on the Global Stage
Shakira and Gerard Piqué’s love story began in 2010 during the filming of “Waka Waka,” the official FIFA World Cup anthem. The Colombian pop sensation was at the height of her career, while Piqué was establishing himself as one of the world’s premier defenders for both FC Barcelona and the Spanish national team. Their chemistry was undeniable, and by 2011, they had gone public with their relationship.
Building a Family
The couple welcomed their first son, Milan, in January 2013, followed by their second son, Sasha, in 2014. For over a decade, they appeared to be the perfect power couple—Shakira supporting Piqué from the stands during crucial matches while he celebrated her musical achievements. Their Barcelona home became a sanctuary where they raised their children away from the public eye.
Career Sacrifices and Compromises
One of the most significant aspects of their relationship was Shakira’s career sacrifice. The “Hips Don’t Lie” singer revealed that she had put her career “in second gear” to support Piqué’s football ambitions. “One of the two had to make that effort and that sacrifice. And I did it. I put my career in second gear and I came to Spain, to support him so he could play football and win titles,” she explained in her emotional interview with Elle magazine.
The Cracks Begin to Show
Financial Disputes and Investment Disagreements
According to Roberto Garcia, Shakira’s former brother-in-law, the problems between the couple began with financial disagreements. Garcia revealed that Piqué had allegedly asked Shakira for money for investment purposes, but her family advised against it. “According to what a person very close to them has told me, there has been an economic problem between the two. Supposedly, Piqué would have asked Shakira for money for an investment issue, and the singer’s family has refused to give it to him,” Garcia disclosed.
Early Warning Signs in Music
Before their official separation, Shakira had already begun expressing her relationship struggles through her music. In May 2022, she released “Te Felicito,” which fans speculated was about Piqué due to lyrics about a “double-faced man” and various clues in the music video.
The Betrayal: How Everything Fell Apart
Shakira and Gerard Piqué Shakira and Gerard Piqué (Image via Getty)
The Devastating Discovery
The most heartbreaking aspect of their breakup was how Shakira discovered the alleged infidelity. In June 2023, she revealed to People en Español that she learned of Piqué’s betrayal while dealing with her father’s critical condition in the hospital. “Everything happened at once. My home was falling apart. I was finding out through the press that I had been betrayed while my dad was in the ICU,” she shared.
The Clara Chia Marti Connection
Spanish media outlets reported that Piqué had been having an affair with Clara Chia Marti, a 23-year-old who had worked as a waitress at a Barcelona bar before Piqué hired her at his company. The relationship became public in January 2023, with photos of the couple kissing at the Summerfest Cerdanya festival in Catalonia. The 12-year age gap between Piqué and Marti became a focal point of public discussion and later inspired some of Shakira’s most pointed lyrics.
Living Separately
By mid-2022, Spanish newspaper El Periodico reported that Piqué was no longer living with Shakira and their children. The couple maintained a facade of normalcy for several weeks before finally announcing their separation through a joint statement requesting privacy for their children’s well-being.
The Musical Response: Shakira’s Artistic Revenge
“Monotonía” – The First Musical Statement
In October 2022, Shakira released “Monotonía,” her first song widely interpreted as addressing the relationship’s end. The Spanish lyrics translated to: “It wasn’t your fault, it wasn’t my fault / It was monotony’s fault / I never said anything but it hurt / I knew this would happen.” The accompanying music video showed Shakira with a literal hole in her chest, symbolizing her heartbreak.
“BZRP Music Session #53” – The Viral Diss Track
Shakira’s collaboration with Argentine producer Bizarrap in January 2023 became a global phenomenon. The song contained multiple references to Piqué and Clara Chia Marti, including wordplay with their names and pointed comparisons. “I’m worth two 22-year-olds / You traded in a Ferrari for a Twingo / You traded in a Rolex for a Casio,” she sang, referencing the age difference and perceived downgrade.
The Aftermath: Custody, Healing, and New Beginnings
Shakira and Gerard Piqué Shakira and Gerard Piqué (Image via Getty)
Custody Agreement and Relocation
In November 2022, Shakira and Piqué reached a custody agreement for Milan and Sasha. The arrangement allowed Shakira to relocate to Miami with the children, closer to her family support system, while ensuring Piqué maintained access to his sons.
Piqué’s Response and New Relationship
Gerard Piqué has largely remained silent about the specifics of their breakup, though he hinted in a 2024 CNN interview that “the truth or what happens or occurs is not told in the way it was.” He confirmed his relationship with Clara Chia Marti and expressed that he feels “very happy” in his current situation.
Shakira’s Journey of Self-Discovery
Despite the pain, Shakira has emerged stronger from the experience. At the 2025 Grammy Awards, she acknowledged that “life hasn’t always been kind” but emphasized her resilience. She’s spoken about feeling “complete” and more self-reliant than ever, channeling her experiences into her music and personal growth.
The Legacy of Their Split
The Shakira-Piqué breakup represents more than just another celebrity separation—it highlights the complexities of high-profile relationships, the sacrifices made for love, and the public nature of modern heartbreak. Their story serves as a reminder that even the most seemingly perfect relationships can harbor deep-seated issues, and that healing often requires both time and the courage to rebuild one’s life from the ground up.
As Shakira continues to focus on her music career and raising her sons in Miami, while Piqué builds his new life with Clara Chia Marti, their 11-year relationship remains a cautionary tale about love, betrayal, and the price of fame in the digital age.
When Zooey Deschanel and Jacob Pechenik announced their separation in September 2019, it marked the end of a four-year marriage that had seemed picture-perfect from the outside. The New Girl star and film producer’s split caught many fans off guard, particularly given how quickly it was followed by Deschanel’s new relationship with Property Brothers star Jonathan Scott. However, beneath the surface of what appeared to be a sudden breakup lay months of careful consideration and a commitment to maintaining their family’s stability above all else.
The couple’s approach to their separation stood out in Hollywood for its maturity and discretion. Rather than airing grievances publicly or engaging in bitter custody battles, Deschanel and Pechenik prioritized their children’s well-being and their shared business ventures. Their joint statement emphasized their decision to remain “friends, business partners and co-parents rather than life partners,” setting a tone of mutual respect that would define their post-marriage relationship.
What makes their split particularly noteworthy is how they managed to maintain their professional partnership while personal changes. The couple continued to run their sustainable farming company, Lettuce Grow, even as they finalized their divorce in 2020. This unique situation offers insights into modern relationships, co-parenting, and the possibility of maintaining business partnerships after romantic relationships end. Understanding the real reasons behind their separation reveals a story of two people who chose growth and change over conflict and resentment.
The Timeline of Their Relationship and Split
Zooey Deschanel and Jacob Pechenik (Image via Getty)
From Movie-Set Romance to Marriage
Zooey Deschanel and Jacob Pechenik’s love story began on the set of the 2015 film Rock the Kasbah. The actress, known for her quirky roles and indie music career, met the fintech entrepreneur-turned-film producer during production. Their relationship moved quickly, with the couple announcing their engagement in January 2015 and marrying in June of the same year.
The couple welcomed two children during their marriage: daughter Elsie Otter in 2015 and son Charlie Wolf in 2017. From the outside, they appeared to be building a strong family foundation while also launching business ventures together, including The Farm Project and later Lettuce Grow.
The Quiet Separation
Despite their public announcement in September 2019, court documents later revealed that Deschanel and Pechenik had actually been separated since January 8, 2019. This eight-month gap between their private separation and public announcement demonstrates their commitment to handling their split with discretion and care for their children’s privacy.
Pechenik officially filed for divorce citing “irreconcilable differences” and requested joint legal and physical custody of their children. The divorce was finalized in June 2020, with both parties maintaining their commitment to co-parenting and their shared business interests.
The Real Reasons Behind Their Split
Irreconcilable Differences and Growing Apart
While the official reason cited in divorce documents was “irreconcilable differences,” the reality appears more nuanced. Sources close to the couple suggested that they had been “done for a while” before their official separation, indicating ongoing challenges in their marriage. The phrase suggests that despite their best efforts, fundamental incompatibilities had developed over time.
Different Life Priorities and Paths
Zooey Deschanel and Jacob Pechenik (Image via Getty)
One significant factor appears to have been their evolving individual priorities and career focuses. Pechenik, originally from the fintech world, had transitioned into film production and sustainable farming ventures. Meanwhile, Deschanel was balancing her acting career, music projects, and motherhood. The demands of their respective careers and their shared business ventures may have created a strain on their personal relationship.
The Challenge of Mixing Business and Marriage
Running multiple businesses together while maintaining a marriage and raising young children proved challenging. Their companies, The Farm Project and Lettuce Grow, required significant time and energy from both partners. While they successfully maintained their business relationship post-divorce, the pressure of being both romantic and business partners may have contributed to their decision to separate.
Their Approach to Co-Parenting
Putting Children First
Throughout their separation and divorce, both Deschanel and Pechenik consistently emphasized their children’s well-being as their top priority. Their joint statement specifically mentioned their commitment to their children above all else. This child-centered approach influenced every aspect of their separation process.
Jacob Pechenik’s public statements reinforced this priority: “Yeah, everything is amicable and we have two beautiful children together. We’ve been raising them and we’re going to continue to raise them, and take great care of them.” His emphasis on continuity in parenting despite the end of their marriage demonstrates their mature approach to co-parenting.
Maintaining Family Traditions
Remarkably, the former couple has maintained family traditions and even includes Deschanel’s current partner, Jonathan Scott, in family activities. According to reports, they continue to take family trips together and maintain what Pechenik describes as a “10 out of 10” relationship. This level of cooperation is rare in Hollywood divorces and speaks to their genuine commitment to their children’s emotional stability.
The Business Partnership That Survived
Zooey Deschanel and Jacob Pechenik (Image via Getty)
Lettuce Grow’s Continued Success
One of the most interesting aspects of their split is how they maintained their business partnership. Lettuce Grow, their sustainable farming company, not only survived their divorce but thrived during and after it. The company’s success during their separation period proved that their professional chemistry remained strong even as their personal relationship ended.
Pechenik now handles the day-to-day operations while Deschanel continues to promote the company through her social media presence and public appearances. This division of labor plays to each of their strengths and allows them to maintain a professional relationship without the complications of daily personal interaction.
Learning to Separate Personal and Professional
Initially, Pechenik admitted to being concerned about how their divorce might affect their business relationship and employee morale. “I was a little worried [employees would] be scared, wondering what this meant for the company and me. Would I be heartbroken?” However, they successfully navigated this challenge by clearly defining their roles and maintaining professional boundaries.
The Jonathan Scott Factor
Timeline and Public Perception
Deschanel’s relationship with Jonathan Scott became public just one week after announcing her separation from Pechenik. The couple met during a Carpool Karaoke segment in August 2019, and their connection was immediate. While some questioned the timing, both Deschanel and Pechenik handled the situation with grace and maturity.
Pechenik’s Gracious Response
Rather than expressing bitterness or jealousy, Pechenik publicly stated that he was “happy” and that the situation remained “amicable.” His mature response to his ex-wife’s new relationship demonstrated the genuine nature of their commitment to remaining friends and co-parents.
