Backstreet Boys' AJ McLean ends marriage with wife after 12 years
PHOTO: Instagram/AJ McLean
PUBLISHED ONJanuary 02, 2024 8:24 AM
AJ McLean and his wife Rochelle have "officially ended" their marriage after 12 years together.
The Backstreet Boys singer, 45, and his 42-year-old former partner revealed in March they were "temporarily" separating, but the pair have now confirmed they have split for good.
A statement shared on AJ's Instagram account read: "As you all know we have been separated for over a year now. While we have hoped for reconciliation we have decided to officially end our marriage. It is with deep love and respect that we have made this decision."
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The former couple — who have daughters Elliot, 11, and seven-year-old Lyric — are now planning to move forward "in the healthiest way possible".
They added: "Our focus now is moving forward in the healthiest way possible with friendship and co-parenting our girls at the forefront of this next chapter.
"We appreciate your kindness, respect, and privacy at this time.
"Thank you, Alexander and Rochelle McLean."
In November, AJ revealed he and Rochelle — who married in 2011 — were "spending more time together", despite their separation.
Speaking on the Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans podcast, he told former Dancing with the Stars professional Cheryl Burke: "We still live separately, but we are in couple's therapy, we are in individual therapy.
"We talk every day, we are spending more time together. We just have to rebuild something that was never there from the beginning."
In March, AJ and Rochelle revealed they were temporarily separating to "work on [themselves]".
They said in a statement at the time: "Marriage is hard, but worth it. We have mutually decided to separate temporarily to work on ourselves, and on our marriage with the hope of building a stronger future.
"The plan is to come back together and continue to nurture our love for one another and our family. We ask for respect and privacy at this time."
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