Shakira sparked relationship rumors with NBA star Jimmy Butler on Wednesday evening after they dined together at Novikov Restaurant & Bar in London.
The basketball player, 33, and the 46-year-old legend did their utmost to fly under the radar by arriving separately, but only’minutes apart’ shortly after 10 p.m.
Sparks must have flowed between the two as they lingered inside the celebrity hotspot until 1:30 a.m. before departing for their individual cars.
According to an eyewitness, his security entourage assisted Shakira’s ‘chauffeur driven car out the fire exit of the restaurant.’
As they ordered sushi and cocktails, the source saw that they appeared ‘cozy’ inside the restaurant.
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The mother-of-two wore a denim jumpsuit, pink lipstick, and her golden mane done in her signature, voluminous curls for her evening out.
Butler wore a black t-shirt, velour slacks, and a clean pair of white sneakers.
He finished off his laid-back look with a gold watch and a red bandana.
In June, the Colombian singer attended the 2023 NBA Finals at the Kaseya Center in Miami, when his team, the Miami Heat, faced the Denver Nuggets.
Both began following one other on Instagram after attending one of his games.
She presently follows 159 people on the social media platform, whilst he follows 481 persons.
Since her breakup from longtime partner Gerard Piqué, Shakira has been romantically linked to Tom Cruise and Lewis Hamilton.
The Hips Don’t Lie singer and former soccer player from Spain, 36, have two sons, Milan, 9, and Sasha, 7.
Butler, who is 13 years Shakira’s junior, has a daughter, Rylee, from a previous relationship with model Kaitlin Nowak.
Shakira was previously said to be in a ‘love triangle’ with Lewis and Hollywood actor Tom Cruise.
Lewis, a racing driver, has been seen with the singer several times since her divorce from ex-partner Gerard Piqué, 36, last year.
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In addition to boat rides with friends in Miami, the duo dined in Barcelona following Lewis’ second-place finish in the country’s Grand Prix last month.
But, according to the Mirror, Tom, 60, had his ‘pride bruised’ after Shakira reportedly rejected his efforts to travel the world with ‘friend’ Lewis.
According to a source, the Top Gun star believed he and the singer ‘had tremendous connection and taking it as a slam dunk they’d be dating in no time’.
‘It was a massive damage to Tom’s ego, it wounded all the more because he considers Lewis a buddy,’ another source told Radar Online.
According to Us Weekly, the singer finds the rumors “hilarious,” and despite having a “fun” time with Tom at the Formula One Grand Prix in Miami, she has no plans to pursue things further.
When the two was seen together at the athletic event, the gossip mill went into overdrive, with sources stating that the A-list actor ‘is really interested in pursuing’ Shakira.
According to an insider, ‘Shakira had a terrific time hanging out with Tom at F1, but she has no interest in dating him.’
They went on to say that the singer is currently single after her 11-year relationship with Pique ended in June 2022.
‘Tom was incredibly kind, and she liked his company, but she isn’t interested in dating him or anybody else right now,’ the insider stated. She has a lot on her plate and is currently preoccupied with her children and profession.
‘Shakira has seen the web allegations that Tom has been wooing her — and how fans have weighed in — but she finds it hilarious because it’s just not true. She had a good time when they talked, but that was the end of it.’