Dominic Smithers
Shakira has urged the paparazzi to leave her children alone.
The Colombian popstar has been in the news over the past few months thanks to wall to wall coverage of her high profile split from Gerard Piqué.
She and the ex-Barcelona footballer announced they were going their separate ways last June, after over a decade together.
But while the media spotlight has been on them for some time now, Shakira has come out and slammed reporters and photographers for harassing their children.
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In a post to Twitter, the 46-year-old asked them to stop following them to school.
"Respected friends, journalists, and medial outlets," she wrote. "In this period of change in my life as a public figure, it's understandable that there is a permanent curiosity on behalf of the press around me and my family.
"However, my children, Milan and Sasha, have endured a very difficult year, suffering incessant harassment and persecution without relief by the paparazzi and several media outlets in Barcelona.
"Now that they are beginning a new life I implore the media on behalf of my children to please respect their right to privacy.
"I beg you to abstain from following them to the entrance and exit of their school, wait for them at the door of our home, or follow them to their extracurricular and recreational activities as the media did in Barcelona with the intent of capturing photos or boosting ratings.
"I trust that the journalists and photographers here will be sensitive to the situation that Milan and Sasha are facing and can behave in the most humane way possible with them, keeping in mind that this is about the physical and emotional health and safety of two minors just 8 and 10 years of age, who only want to be able to go out in public and attend school feeling safe and tranquil that they aren't being followed or subjected to the constant scrutiny of cameras.
"I extend this petition not as an artist, but as a mother who wishes to protect and care for the psychological and emotional well-being of my children so they may live a happy and healthy life, as all children deserve to do.
"Thanking you in advance for your understanding and support, Shakira."
This comes after Piqué opened up about their break-up.
Speaking to El Pais, the 36-year-old addressed rumours that he was the villain of the story and had somehow come out on top.
"It is not like that," he said. "The problem is how people perceive it or how the press sells it. I keep doing what I want.
"The day I die, I will look back and hope I have always done what I wanted. I want to be true to myself. I'm not going to spend money cleaning up my image.
"The people I care about and the ones I love are the ones who know me. The rest I don't care.
"I spend my energy on being with my loved ones and giving them what I have. I'm very happy. There have been changes in my life, and I have known how to preserve happiness."