Shakira and Gerard Pique 'being blackmailed over sex tape'

A former employee has reportedly threatened to release private footage of the celebrity couple

Pop star Shakira and her footballer husband, Gerard Pique, are reportedly being blackmailed by a former employee over a sex tape, reports The Independent.

According to Spanish news outlet Diario Vasco, the former employee is asking the couple for a 'large sum of money' to not publish footage of the two engaging in sexual acts.

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Neither the singer nor the footballer have yet commented on the issue. Mirror claims that a source close to the star said that the rumour "is a very random report and completely untrue".

PHOTO: POPSUGAR

However, according to Spanish law, anyone found guilty of blackmail and extortion could expect up to five years in prison, reported Metro.

Earlier, Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema was charged in an extortion case involving a sex tape featuring fellow French international Mathieu Valbuena. Both players were consequently dropped from the national squad.

PHOTO: NDTV

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Shakira and Pique met each other in 2010 when he first appeared in her FIFA World Cup music video Waka Waka. Shakira is 10 years younger than the 38-year-old footballer. The duo have two sons, Milan, two, and Sasha, 11 months.