Shakira Denies Endorsing Colombian Presidential Candidates After Altered Campaign Images Spread Online
Shakira has publicly rejected claims that she is supporting any candidate in Colombia’s upcoming presidential election after manipulated campaign images featuring the global superstar circulated widely across social media.
The Colombian singer addressed the issue this week after photographs appearing to show her endorsing political figures Iván Cepeda and Aida Quilcué began gaining traction online. The images, which were shared by fan pages and political supporters across multiple platforms, suggested that Shakira had aligned herself with specific candidates ahead of the highly anticipated election. The artist quickly moved to distance herself from the material, stating that the images were unauthorized and did not reflect her political views.
The response comes as Colombia enters a politically charged election cycle in which public figures, celebrities, and cultural icons often become the subject of misinformation campaigns and fabricated endorsements. With more than 90 million followers on Instagram and one of the most recognizable public profiles in Latin America, Shakira’s name carries significant influence both inside Colombia and internationally, making her an attractive target for political groups seeking to strengthen their messaging.
The singer’s statement made clear that she intends to remain neutral throughout the electoral process. Rather than endorsing a candidate, she emphasized her support for democratic participation and the right of Colombian citizens to make their own decisions at the ballot box.
“The images circulating of me supporting presidential candidates are fake,” Shakira said in a statement. “I do not support any candidate, nor have I authorized the use of my image in any campaign. (...) My commitment is to Colombia, to its democracy and to the right of every Colombian to choose freely,” she said. “My wish is for these elections to proceed transparently and in a peaceful environment for all Colombians.”
The altered campaign images represent the latest attempt to connect Shakira to Colombian politics. Earlier this year, social media users circulated unverified claims suggesting that the singer was distantly related to presidential candidate Iván Cepeda. Those reports spread online despite a lack of evidence and were never substantiated by the candidate, his campaign, or Shakira’s representatives.
Throughout her career, Shakira has generally avoided publicly endorsing political candidates, even while speaking openly about social issues that she considers important. The singer has frequently used her platform to advocate for education initiatives, children’s welfare programs, and humanitarian causes, particularly through her philanthropic work in Colombia. However, she has largely refrained from aligning herself with political campaigns or election movements.
That does not mean the artist has remained silent on broader public issues. In recent years, Shakira has occasionally spoken about immigration, human rights, and social inequality, particularly as those topics have directly affected communities she identifies with. Last year, she attracted attention after discussing the experience of immigrants living in the United States during a period of heightened political tension surrounding immigration policy.
At the time, Shakira said that many immigrants were living with uncertainty and anxiety, stressing the importance of treating people with dignity regardless of changing government policies. Her comments generated significant discussion but stopped short of endorsing any political party or candidate.
Born and raised in Barranquilla, Colombia, Shakira left her home country as a teenager while pursuing an international music career. She moved to the United States at age 19 as her success expanded beyond Latin America and eventually became one of the best-selling Latin artists in history. Over the years, she also spent significant time in Spain during her relationship with former soccer star Gerard Piqué before relocating to Miami following the couple’s separation.
Despite living abroad for much of her adult life, Shakira has maintained strong ties to Colombia and remains one of the country's most celebrated cultural ambassadors. Earlier this year, she returned home as part of her highly successful Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour, performing four sold-out concerts across Colombia in February. The shows drew massive crowds and reinforced her enduring popularity in the country where her career began.
