Global pop star Shakira has finally spoken about her split from Barcelona player Gerard Piqué nearly four months after announcing her separation.

Describing the phase as the “darkest hour” of her life, Shakira said she remained quiet all this time because she was trying to process the situation. “It’s hard to talk about it, especially because I’m still going through it, and because I’m in the public eye and because our separation is not like a regular separation. It’s been tough not only for me, but also for my kids. Incredibly difficult. I have paparazzi camping outside, in front of my house, 24/7,” Shakira mentioned in an interview with Elle magazine.

She added, “And there’s not a place where I can hide from them with my kids, except for my own house. You know, we can’t take a walk in the park like a regular family or go have an ice cream or do any activity without paparazzi following us. So it’s hard. I try to do it and to protect them, because that’s my number one mission in life. But then they hear things in school from their friends or they come across some disagreeable, unpleasant news online, and it just affects them, you know?”

Shakira and Gerard Piqué began dating 12 years ago after they met at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, where she sang the tournament theme song ‘Waka Waka,’ which became globally famous. In a joint statement regarding the split, the couple had said in June, “We regret confirming that we're splitting up. For the welfare of our children, which is our top priority, we ask for respect for our privacy. Thank you for understanding.”