Shakira Sued for $100 Million by Ex-Boyfriend

Antonio de la Rua claims he is to thank for the singer's success by helping build her "brand"

By Bruna Nessif Apr 18, 2013 12:24 AMTags
Shakira, Antonio de la RuaEthan Miller/Getty Images

Shakira's ex-boyfriend believes he deserves a big payout.

The pint-sized singer and Voice coach has been slapped with a $100 million lawsuit in California by Antonio de la Rua, who claims that he built the "Shakira brand" and was brains behind her hits, "Hips Don't Lie" and "Waka Waka," according to court documents.

De la Rua filed the lawsuit on April 12, after initially filing a $250 million lawsuit against the star in New York last November. Shakira filed a motion March 28 asking the court to dismiss that lawsuit because they do not have jurisdiction over her and because de La Rua has failed to state an actionable claim.

Shakira doesn't believe her ex-boyfriend is to thank for her success, and according to legal documents, the new mommy states that when she first met de la Rua at a concert in Argentina in 2000, she was "already a well-known and recognized artist with an established international career."

She does say that her former flame, who is the son of an Argentine president, was one of "numerous advisers," but it wasn't because of his vast knowledge of the business. In fact, the performer stated that "though he lacked experience or knowledge of the music industry," she decided, in 2005, at his request, she decided to involve him in some matters relating to the business because he "was unemployed."

After dating for a year, de la Rua's father  "was forced to resign as president of Argentina at the end of 2001, for safety reason, plaintiff became self-exiled from Argentina and was unemployed," Shakira said.

But in the court documents de la Rua insists that her fame is partially due to him, saying he convinced the star to record "Hips Don't Lie" even though she "hated it" at first, and helped her land a $300 million deal with Live Nation in 2008. The docs add that he "inspired" Shakira to write her song "Waka Waka," which became the anthem for the 2010 World Cup.

De la Rue's attorney tells E! News, "We just want to have our day in court." Shakira's rep was not immediately available for comment.

—Reporting by Claudia Rosenbaum