Miami Herald (Sunday)

What me, worry? Newly single Shakira spotted in Miami with sons amid ongoing tax issues

- BY MADELEINE MARR mmarr@miamiheral­d.com

was here.

The Colombian superstar was pictured Tuesday at Miami Internatio­nal Airport flanked by her two sons, Sasha, 7, and Milan, 9.

The reason for her trip is unclear, but the “Hips Don’t Lie” singer is dealing with not so fun stuff in her private life.

The 45-year-old recently split with the kids’ father, Spanish soccer star Gerard Piqué, 35.; her father is unwell after a nasty spill last month; and the taxman continues to knock heavily on her door.

The “Dancing with Myself” host reportedly faces up to eight years in jail if found guilty of an alleged $14.5 million tax fraud. She is accused of defrauding the Spanish treasury from 2012 to 2014.

According to Spanish law, if an individual spends more than 183 days in the country, he or she is considered a legal, tax paying resident. But Shak reportedly claimed she was a Bahamas resident at the time.

“Shakira has always cooperatSh­akira ed and abided by the law, demonstrat­ing impeccable conduct as an individual and a taxpayer, and faithfully following the counsel of PriceWater­house Coopers, a prestigiou­s and globally recognized tax firm,” read a statement to media from her camp. “Unfortunat­ely, the Spanish Tax Office, which loses one out of every two lawsuits with its taxpayers, continues to violate her rights and pursue yet another baseless case. Shakira is confident that her innocence will be proven by the end of the judicial process.”

To settle the case, the beloved entertaine­r — born Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll — has already paid the $15.5 million she is accused of evading, as well as more than $3 million in interest.

It’s a good thing she’s actively employed. In addition to her gig on NBC’s “Dancing with Myself,” her new song “Te Felicito” with Rauw Alejandro is a hit, and she just dropped a new perfume called Midnight Muse Dance.

Madeleine Marr: madeleinem­arr

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