Shakira learned of ex Gerard Pique's 'betrayal' via press: 'I thought I would die'

Shakira has detailed the betrayal she endured from her former boyfriend of 11 years Gerard Piqué during one of the hardest times of her life.

In a new cover story interview with People en Español, the Waka Waka singer recalled learning about the athlete’s affair shortly after her father, William Mebarak Chadid was admitted to hospital following a bad fall.

"He went to Barcelona to console me after I was consumed with sadness because of my separation," she shared of her "best friend" father. "While he was at Milan’s first communion, he was gravely injured in an accident.

"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."

Shakira and Piqué announced their split via a joint statement in June. The couple is parents to Milan, 9, and Sasha, 7, together.

Two months after the breakup, the Spanish former footballer was confirmed to be dating a public relations student Clara Chia, 23, with whom he allegedly had an affair during his relationship with the Hips Don’t Lie crooner.

In the interview, the songstress explained that she thought she "wasn’t going to survive" the hardships that piled up over one another.

"The man I have loved the most in my life, my father, was leaving me when I needed him the most," she said, "I couldn’t talk to him, or go to my best friend for the advice I needed so much."

Nonetheless, Shakira has been thriving since her split from the athlete; she went on to release chart-topping tracks, moved to Miami for a more private life for her kids, and is currently rumoured to be seeing Lewis Hamilton.