Shakira Says Tax Fraud Allegations Are False, Talks Gerard Piqué Split

Grammy winner Shakira, 45, is ready for a legal battle in connection with tax fraud after experiencing painful split from Gerard Piqué, which she describes as "the darkest hour in my life."

The Colombian singer opened up on a lot of things in her first interview since announcing her split in a joint statement with the footballer in June. The former couple were together for 12 years, and share sons Milan, 9, and Sasha, 7.

In her new cover story for Elle magazine, she called the public split "incredibly difficult." Shakira said that she has tried to conceal the situation in front of her sons, and she tries to do it and to "protect them, because that’s my number one mission in life." She noted that the boys hear things in school from their friends or they "come across some disagreeable, unpleasant news online, and it just affects them."

Shakira said that the relationship with her former partner that once felt "sacred" has been "turned into something vulgarized and cheapened" by the scandalous headlines surrounding the break-up. She chose not to discuss Piqué's romance with new girlfriend, Clara Chia, or allegations that he cheated on her, reported Entertainment Tonight.

But Shakira said that her priority is raising their kids as co-parents. She shared that the two have a job to do for these "two incredible boys, and I have faith that we will figure out what is best for their future, their own dreams in life, and what is a fair solution for everyone involved." She hopes and would appreciate if they were given the "space to do that privately."

Shakira was also asked what ultimately led her to split from Piqué. She seemed to cite the sacrifices that she made career-wise for their family. Since he plays for FC Barcelona, the family was based in Barcelona, Spain. She said that she put her career in second gear and she arrived in Spain, to "support him so he could play football and win titles."

Shakira also commented on her Spanish tax fraud case. Prosecutors in Spain are seeking a jail term of eight years and two months if she is convicted in her tax fraud trial. They also expect her to pay a fine of about $25 million. An indictment against Shakira alleged that she failed to pay the Spanish government about $15 million in taxes between 2012 and 2014.

Shakira had listed her official residence those years as the Bahamas. Still, prosecutors allege that she spent more than half that time in Spain. They feel that she should've paid taxes in the country. Hello! magazine reported that the singer and her team revealed in July that she would be taking the claims of tax fraud to court.

In the new interview, she said that she has to fight for what she believes because "these are false accusations." She shared that as of today, she owes "zero to them." She is confident that she has enough proof to support her case and "that justice will prevail in my favor."