Shakira's Dad Recovering from a Bad Fall After Paparazzi Snaps Ambulance Photos at Her House

Pop superstar Shakira has assured her fans that she is alright after snaps of an ambulance were taken from her home following her split with her long-term partner, Gerard Piqué.

Shakira said that it was her father, William Mebarak Chadid, 91, who needed the ambulance after he suffered a bad fall at her house. So, they called an emergency service and she accompanied him to the hospital. The superstar also clarified that while her father's face was badly bruised because of the fall, William is well-looked after.

However, Shakira understood why her fans were alarmed by the paparazzi photos given that she just announced her separation a few days before. The Colombian singer released a statement about her split with Piqué, who is the father of her two children, Milan, 10 years old, and Sasha, 7 years old. Shakira and the FIFA sportsman are not married but they have been together for almost 12 years.

"For the well-being of our children, who are our highest priority, we ask that you respect our privacy," Shakira said following the news of their breakup, per NBC News.

Shakira, An Only Child With Nine Half-Siblings

The world-class singer who has legions of fans once stated that she's not known as a superstar in her hometown in Barranquilla. Instead, people there refer to her as William's daughter. She describes him as a wise man and the first person she goes to when she needs advice.

Shakira is the only child of William and Nidia Ripoll but she has nine other half-siblings. The siblings have a great relationship, according to Hola! In fact, her brother Toni Mebarak is in her production team and serves as her right-hand man. Toni is responsible for Shakira's sold-out concerts around the world.

She also has siblings living in the U.S. as professional lawyers and doctors. She has one brother who works with special needs kids.

In 2006, Shakira revealed in a documentary that they lost one sibling when she was just nine years old. Tonino Mebarak was 19 when he succumbed to a motorcycle accident. He was the inspiration for Shakira's song, "Tus Gafas Oscuras," which she wrote soon after Tonino's death.

Why Shakira and Gerard Piqué Broke Up

In 2010, Shakira met her future partner on the set of her music video for "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)." Piqué was already a popular professional football player when they got into a relationship but Shakira said she didn't know him initially since she does not watch football.

Three years later, the couple welcomed their first child together and then became parents for a second time two and a half years later. In 2020, Shakira revealed in an interview with "60 Minutes" that she's scared of marriage so they have never planned to make their union official despite expanding their family.

Shakira said that they don't see themselves as a traditional couple but they are involved in their kids' lives. It helps that they both have huge extended families as well who support them and their kids.

However, exclusive reports from El Periodico cited that the couple broke up because Shakira caught her partner with someone else. Piqué has been living alone in his apartment for some weeks prior to Shakira's official statement.

However, a local journalist belied reports of infidelity. Jose Antonio Aviles said that couple has an open relationship. It's still unclear how the pair plan to co-parent their sons moving forward.