Shakira sued by ex-boyfriend Antonio de la Rua for $250M

Colombian pop star Shakira has asked a New York judge to dismiss a $250 million lawsuit filed by her ex-boyfriend, Antonio de la Rua, who claims he was responsible for the singer’s success.

Shakira, who recently gave birth to her first child with FC Barcelona soccer player Gerard Pique, said she was already a “well-known and recognized artist” when she met de la Rua in Argentina in 2000, according to court documents cited by New York Daily News.

But de la Rua, who is the son of former Argentine President Fernando de la Rua, who ruled the South American country from 1999 to 2001, claims he is entitled to compensation for helping build the “Shakira brand."

He also claims he was responsible for two of Shakira’s hit songs, “Hips Don’t Lie” and “Waka Waka.”

But Shakira played down de la Rua's role in shaping her career, saying he was just “one of my numerous advisers.”

E! Online reported that de la Rua filed the lawsuit on April 12. The celebrity gossip website said those documents stated he was seeking $100 million, significantly less than his initial claim of $250 million back n November.

The couple ended their relationship in 2010. De la Rua has since had a child with former Miss World Colombia Daniela Ramos, the LA Times reported.