Shakira 's Ex-Boyfriend Sues Her For $100 Million
Posted by Joseph Lee on 12.01.2012
For his contributions to her success...
Billboard reports that Shakira is being sued by her former boyfriend Antonio de la Rua for $100 million to "recover his share of past and future partnership profits".
The lawsuit reads: "The combination of de la Rúa's business and marketing talents with Defendant's artistic talents, beauty and sex appeal succeeded in propelling the value of the partnership far beyond anything either had previously achieved or believed possible."
The lawsuit was fired on November 20 by William Reid of Reid, Collins & Tsai in the Supreme Court of the State of New York. It was filed after legal documents filed by Shakira in late October wanting damages from de la Rúa for misappropriation of funds. He is suing for breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty. The money is owed to him as part of an agreement with Shakira, even though there isn't a written agreement between the two.
His attorney William Reid said: "She was extremely successful as a recording artist long before Antonio ever became her business manager. But the financial success she enjoyed with Antonio was unparalleled."
The lawsuit tells a story that starts in 2000 when the two met in Argentina. It details many events in her life that weren't known quite as well before, such as the decision to record "Hips Don't Like" to save an album, negotiations with Live Nation and recording the World Cup anthem "Waka Waka."
De la Rua and Shakira became business partners in 2004 after she lost "millions" in her first world tour and de la Rua "agreed" to run her business enterprises.
The lawsuit reads: "De la Rúa spent more than six years building the 'Shakira brand into one the most valuable pop-star brands in the entertainment industry. The profits earned by the partnership in 2011 and 2012, and millions of dollars that it will earn in the future, were generated by the deals he conceptualized, originated, negotiated and executed."
The relationship was so good between the two that when they stopped dating in 2010, Shakira wrote on her website: "We continue to be partners in our business and professional lives."
Less than a year later in October of 2011, Shakira told an attorney to "terminate de la Rúa, as if he were a mere employee," according to the suit.
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Shakira is now expecting her first child with Gerard Pique and will be a coach on The Voice in the spring.
