After weeks of blasting rumours of a break-up, branding infidelity claims ‘inaccurate’ and putting on sickly displays of affection, Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez have confirmed they have ended their engagement.
Despite their lengthy protestations, the couple finally released a statement announcing the news, as they told Today: ‘We have realized we are better as friends and look forward to remaining so. We will continue to work together and support each other on our shared businesses and projects…
‘We wish the best for each other and one another’s children. Out of respect for them, the only other comment we have is to say is thank you to everyone who has sent kind words and support’.
Last month, insiders claimed the singer, 51, who was seen without her ring last week, and former Yankees player, 45, ended their two-year engagement after suffering issues for some time including being dogged by rumours of Alex’s ‘friendship’ with reality star Madison LeCroy, 30.
In a statement, Jennifer and Alex said the split claims were ‘inaccurate’ and they are ‘working through some things’ shortly before the defiant couple packed on the PDA for cameras during a family trip when they were spotted kissing in the Dominican Republic and claimed to be ‘working through things’.
Over: Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez have confirmed they have split
The couple, who became engaged in March 2019, began dating in 2017 with Jennifer’s twins Emme and Max, 13, who she shares with ex Marc Anthony, growing close to Rodriguez’s two daughters, Natasha, 14, and ten-year-old Ella, whom he shares with ex-wife Cynthia Rodriguez.
Hours before the split was announced, Alex took to Instagram on Wednesday to share a video in which he reflected on the many happy times he and the singer had shared together.
Filming a selection of photos showing him, Jennifer and their blended family, Alex played Coldplay ballad, Fix You and tagged Jennifer. The video ended on a photo of Jennifer and Alex’s names written in sand.
Elsewhere – on Sunday, Jennifer set tongues wagging when she shared a selfie which led fans to point out that she was not wearing her $1m engagement ring, which caused speculation about the state of her romance.
Claims: It was claimed that Rodriguez’s alleged ‘friendship’ with Southern Charm star Madison LeCroy, 30, pictured in January, was a factor after she claimed in February they had engaged in ‘innocent’ conversations over the phone
Last month, Page Six reported Rodriguez’s alleged ‘friendship’ with reality star Madison was a factor in the split while other sources close to the couple said the break-up was ‘a long time coming’.
A source told the publication: ‘The Madison LeCroy scandal was the reason they finally broke up. There were already problems, but Jennifer was really embarrassed by it’, while in February, there appeared to be issues with the power couple after Madison claimed she spoke with Rodriguez over the phone.
The explosive allegations had originally occurred during a recent Southern Charm reunion, where Madison claimed she had been in contact with a married and ex-MLB player. The name had been bleeped out.
During the episode, Madison was also accused of sleeping with the unidentified sports star but she denied ever seeing the man in person, although she did admit to DM-ing him.
Where is it? On Sunday, Jennifer set tongues wagging when she shared a stunning selfie which left fans quick to point out that she was not wearing her $1m engagement ring, which led to speculation about the state of her romance
Suspicions arose that the person could have been Rodriguez, despite him not being married and only engaged at the time to Jennifer.
Later, Madison revealed in an interview with Page Six she had been in ‘innocent’ communication with Rodriguez but that they had ‘never met up’ and only ‘spoken on the phone’.
‘That’s the truth,’ the reality star claimed, clarifying they had ‘never been physical… never had any kind of anything. Just an acquaintance.’
Madison also insisted that Rodriguez had ‘never physically cheated’ on Jennifer with her and that their phone calls had been ‘inconsistent’ and ‘random’. The reality star would not reveal what was discussed.
The Southern Charm star’s co-star Shep Rose later claimed ‘there was an NDA signed’, suggesting some damage control may have been done following their alleged communication.
Blended family: The duo first began dating in 2017 with Jennifer’s twins Emme and Max, 13, who she shares with ex Marc Anthony, growing close to Rodriguez’s two daughters, Natasha, 14, and ten-year-old Ella, whom he shares with ex-wife Cynthia Rodriguez (pictured in happier times)
Rumors spread within Madison’s inner circle because she ‘told the wrong person’ about who she had been in contact with. ‘All this stuff was a year ago [but] it’s being aired now,’ she explained.
However, a source with knowledge of the situation previously told DailyMail.com: ‘Alex has never met or spoken to Madison or anyone from the show.’
Elsewhere, a source told UsWeekly over the alleged split: ‘The last time they had seen each other was March 1. They haven’t seen each other since then. There have been issues in their relationship for a while now.’
Further sources continued: ‘They have been on the rocks for almost three months now. They’ve been trying to keep it together for the kids but everyone knew it wasn’t going to work.
‘They were going to buy a mega-mansion together and then that didn’t happen, once they backed out of the deal all their friends down here [in Miami] knew.’
On one knee: Jennifer and Rodriguez announced their engagement in March 2019 during a getaway to the Bahamas where he surprised her with a large diamond ring (pictured)
The couple’s wedding plans were stalled twice by COVID-19 and earlier this year Alex said: ‘We tried twice in 2020. We got bit twice by COVID-19. You know, they say in baseball, ‘Third time’s the charm,’ so let’s hope’.
The couple had initially planned on tying the knot in Italy last summer and after the second time was cancelled, Jennifer told ELLE: ‘There’s no rush. We want to do it right when we can do it.’
Jennifer has previously been married three times and has had a series of high-profile romances over the years including the likes of Sean ‘Puff Daddy’ Combs, Ben Affleck and Marc Anthony.
In 2019, Jennifer spoke about her first date with the sportsman and gushed over their meeting.
She told Vanity Fair: ‘He was sitting there in his white shirt, very confident and manly, but then he was just so talkative! I think he thought I was going to be this loud person, but I’m not. I just listen…
Allegations: Later on Friday, Page Six later alleged that Jennifer and Rodriguez split over his alleged friendship with Southern Charm star Madison
‘So he’s talking, talking about his plans, about how he had just retired from baseball, about how he saw himself getting married again, all these things you wouldn’t normally talk about on a first date…
‘I don’t know if he thought it was a date. I thought it was a date. Then I knew he was nervous because he asked me if I wanted a drink. I said, ‘No, I don’t drink,’ and he asked if I minded if he had one. He was nervous, and it was really cute.’
Giving his side of things, he responded: ‘I didn’t know if it was a date. Maybe we were seeing each other at night because of her work schedule. I went in uneasy, not knowing her situation.’
Of their love story, he said: ‘We are very much twins. We’re both Leos; we’re both from New York; we’re both Latino and about 20 other things’, while Jennifer went on: ‘I understand him in a way that I don’t think anyone else could, and he understands me in a way that no one else could ever’.
J-ROD’S LOVE TIMELINE 2017-2021
MAY 2005
The star met at a baseball game at Shea Stadium in Queens, New York. He was playing for the Yankees and she was with husband Marc Anthony.
She said: ‘We shook hands, and it was this weird electricity for, like, three seconds… three to five seconds of looking at somebody right in their eyes, and getting stuck.’
FEBRUARY 2017
They bumped into each other at a restaurant where she said ‘hello’ and he asked her out.
MARCH 2017
He gushed about Jennifer while on The View; soon after they were seen in NYC arm in arm.
In May 2005 the star met at a baseball game at Shea Stadium in Queens, New York. He was playing for the Yankees and she was with husband Marc Anthony
Family: Pictured with his two daughters and her twins Max and Emme in 2017
APRIL 2017
They were also seen in Miami as they went on a date and enjoyed meals together.
MAY 2017
She takes the athlete to the Met Gala in NYC as she looks incredible in a blue sheer dress.
JUNE 2017
They share an image in a swimming pool with his two daughters and her twins Max and Emme. That same month they visit Paris.
They look good together as they hit the Met Gala for the second time in May 2018
JULY 2017
They look happy in Miami together as they seem to spend every day by each other’s side.
AUGUST 2017
They are seen in the Hamptons together; she spends more time in NYC to film Shades Of Blue.
OCTOBER 2017
They are seen on stage together for One Voice: Somos Live! A Concert For Disaster Relief in Los Angeles, California. They also pose together for Vanity Fair.
JANUARY 2018
They attend the event benefiting the Primary Health Centers of Puerto Rico and then the Guess Spring Campaign launch in Los Angeles.
APRIL 2018
Rodriguez and Lopez hit the red carpet for the Time 100 Gala at Lincoln Center in New York.
MAY 2018
They hit the Met Gala for the second time.
They attend the Grammys together and share cute posts on Valentine’s Day. They also go to the Oscars together (pictured in 2019) then the Vanity Fair bash
AUGUST 2018
They do a Today show appearance together with her mom as well as Kathy Lee Gifford.
OCTOBER 2018
They attend the 2018 American Music Awards where they pose with Bebe Rexha.
DECEMBER 2018
He helps her as she promotes her movie Second Act.
FEBRUARY 2019
They attend the Grammys together and share cute posts on Valentine’s Day. They also go to the Oscars together then the Vanity Fair bash.
MARCH 2019
He proposed with a massive diamond ring while in the Bahamas. Even the Obamas congratulate the couple on their engagement.
MAY 2019
Another Met Gala; she wears a beaded cap.
JUNE 2019
Lopez and Rodriguez are seen arriving to the 2019 CFDA Fashion Awards on June 3, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.
In March 2019 He proposed with a massive diamond ring while in the Bahamas. Even the Obamas congratulate the couple on their engagement
Lopez and Rodriguez are seen arriving to the 2019 CFDA Fashion Awards on June 3, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City
SEPTEMBER 2019
They have a big engagement party. ‘We really form a beautiful blended family and I think they would all be thrilled,’ she told Extra.
SEPTEMBER 2020
In an interview with People magazine, Lopez shared that having more time at home with her fiancé and their children has been the ultimate ‘blessing’ throughout quarantining amid the coronavirus pandemic.
‘Because Alex and I have both separately and now together lived a gypsy-type life, as both of our careers require tons of travel.
‘The blessing of the quarantine for us was having dinner with the kids every night, for months and months,’ Lopez told the outlet.
‘That’s been a huge blessing for us during this time.’
JANUARY 2021
Alex is by Jennifer’s side when she sings at Joe Biden’s inauguration in Washington, DC.
FEBRUARY 2021
Southern Charm’s Danni Baird alleged on the Reality Life With Kate Casey podcast that fellow cast member Madison LeCroy copped to FaceTiming with Rodriguez.
But they are still seen in late February kissing in the Dominican Republic.