\n Shakira.<\/span> David Fisher\/Shutterstock<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Shakira<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s romance with NBA star Jimmy Butler<\/strong> is heating up \u2014 and they\u2019re both interested in seeing what the future brings.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve been getting progressively closer over the past several weeks,\u201d an insider exclusively tells Us Weekly<\/em> of Shakira, 46, and Butler, 33. \u201cJimmy makes Shakira smile, and she\u2019s really enjoying getting to know him on a deeper level.\u201d<\/p>\n The source adds that Shakira is intrigued by Butler because he\u2019s \u201cdifferent from other men\u201d she\u2019s dated in the past. \u201cShe appreciates how he takes the lead in the relationship,\u201d the insider tells Us<\/em>. \u201cHe\u2019s the one who makes plans with her, pursues her, and it makes her feel valued.\u201d<\/p>\n The duo are still taking it slow, but Shakira is \u201cdefinitely open to seeing where things go\u201d in the future. \u201cIt\u2019s too early to tell if there\u2019s long-term potential there,\u201d the source continues.<\/p>\n Shakira and Butler, who plays for the Miami Heat, first sparked romance rumors in May when the pop star attended one of his games and shared a video of herself cheering on the team. Days later, Butler \u201cliked\u201d an Instagram video by Shakira that showed her singing and playing guitar.<\/p>\n Two months later, the duo were spotted arriving together<\/a> at London hotspot Novikov Restaurant & Bar. \u201cThey have been out a few times, but things are very new,\u201d an insider told Us<\/em><\/a> at the time. \u201cShe feels happy spending time with him.\u201d<\/p>\n Shakira\u2019s new romance comes one year after she split from longtime partner Gerard Piqu\u00e9<\/strong><\/a>, with whom she shares sons Milan, 10, and Sasha, 8. The former couple were together for 12 years<\/a> before their June 2022 split.<\/p>\n Shortly before the breakup was announced, rumors swirled that Piqu\u00e9, 36, was having an affair. Neither he nor Shakira ever directly addressed the speculation, but Piqu\u00e9 was spotted packing on the PDA with Clara Chia<\/strong><\/a> in August 2022. Piq\u00fae confirmed his romance<\/a> with Chia, 24, in February.<\/p>\n Earlier this year, Shakira said she was \u201cbetrayed\u201d<\/a> by her ex while her father, William Mebarak Chadid<\/strong>, was hospitalized.<\/p>\n \u201c[My dad] went to Barcelona to console me after I was consumed with sadness because of my separation,\u201d she told People en Espa\u00f1ol<\/em> in June. \u201cWhile he was at Milan\u2019s first communion, he was gravely injured in an accident. Everything happened at once. My home was falling apart. I was finding out through the press that I had been betrayed while my dad was in the ICU.\u201d<\/p>\n Shakira was briefly linked to Tom Cruise<\/strong><\/a> after they were photographed hanging out at the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix in May, but an insider told Us<\/em> that the twosome\u2019s relationship was purely platonic.<\/p>\n \u201cShakira had a great time hanging out with Tom at F1 but she has no interest in dating him,\u201d the source said<\/a>. \u201cHe was really nice and she enjoyed his company, but she isn\u2019t focused on dating him or anybody else at the moment. She has a lot on her plate and is focused on her kids and career for now.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"Shakira](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Shakira-Is-Getting-Progressively-Closer-to-Jimmy-Butler-He-Makes-Her-Feel-Valued-256.jpg?w=700&quality=86&strip=all\")
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\n Jimmy Butler.<\/span> Leonard Zhukovsky\/Shutterstock<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n![\"Gerard](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Gerard-Pique-Breaks-Silence-on-Clara-Chia-Romance-After-Shakira-Split-Im-a-Puppet-826.jpg?w=700&quality=86&strip=all\")
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