Tonino Mebarak – Facts about Shakira's Brother & Dedicated Supporter

Tonino Mebarak has been integral to his sister's career, but beyond that, the music manager has consistently shown her unconditional support. He was allegedly instrumental in uncovering her partner's infidelity and reportedly had a physical altercation with the ex-soccer player in her defense.

In May 2023, news broke that Tonino Mebarak, one of Shakira's older brothers, got into a physical altercation with the singer's ex-partner Gerard Pique. It started as an argument regarding the custody of the former couple's two sons.

The argument reportedly grew intense and escalated into a physical fight. The rumor immediately went viral on social media, although no evidence emerged to support it. It was later deemed false, with reliable sources saying the fight never occurred.

Paparazzo journalist Jordi Martin also debunked the gossip, tweeting (as translated via Google), "It is flatly false that @3gerardpique has come to blows with Tonino, the brother of @shakira in Miami."

Although Tonino lives a relatively private life, his sister's public split from her husband thrust him further into the spotlight. He led a different career before joining the entertainment industry as Shakira's right-hand man. His siblings are also successful in their respective fields.

Tonino Mebarak Used to Sell Watches

Tonino drew his first breath in 1972, the fourth child born to William Mebarak and Nidia Ripoll in Colombia. Before pursuing an entertainment career, he followed in his father's footsteps and sold watches for years.

It's unclear when he left the profession, but Shakira later employed him as her road manager and representative. Tonino is also a married man. It's unknown to whom, but he has a daughter who became Shakira's godchild.

Tonino Mebarak Is One of Nine Siblings, One of Whom Died in a Tragic Accident

Tonino's siblings are Lucy, Alberto, Moises, Patricia, Antonio, and Edward Mebarak. Lucy is a Colombian-based neurosurgeon, Alberto is a lawyer, and Patricia is a special needs teacher.

Little is known about Antonio and Edward, but the youngest of the family is Shakira. She is the only biological child of William and Nidia, and the rest of her brothers and sisters were born to her father.

Their ninth sibling died in a motorcycle accident when he was 19. Shakira revealed this information in a 2006 documentary about her life on VH1. The singer wrote the song "Tus Gafas Oscuras" ("Your Dark Glasses") about how she noticed her father coped with the loss.

"One day, Shakira said to me: 'Papa, I want you to hear this song, the name is Your dark glasses.' From the moment I lost my eldest son, I hid the pain behind a pair of glasses, and she formed a connection between that and the glasses I used," William reflected.

Tonino Mebarak Bridged the Communication between Shakira and Gerard Pique

Many sources reported that Tonino was critical in uncovering Gerard's extra-marital affairs. After Gerard Pique's infidelity with Clara Chia became public news, Tonino traveled from Miami to Barcelona to support Shakira.

He has since acted as a mediator between the former couple as they settled the custody of their kids, Milan and Sasha. Gerard went public with his romance with Clara in August 2022. It is said Clara has also met and spent time with Milan and Sasha.