Backstreet Boys’ AJ McLean and Wife Rochelle Officially Break Up After 12 Years of Marriage

They are not back together, alright.

AJ McLean and his wife Rochelle Deanna Karidis announced they are getting a divorce nine months after revealing their separation.

"As you all know we have been separated for over a year now," the Backstreet Boys star wrote on Instagram Jan. 1. "While we have hoped for reconciliation we have decided to officially end our marriage."

The couple—who tied the knot in December 2011 at the Beverly Hills Hotel—are focusing on amicably raising their kids Elliott, 11, and Lyric, 6, in the wake of the breakup.

"It is with deep love and respect that we have made this decision," AJ continued in the post, also shared on Rochelle's page. "Our focus now is moving forward in the healthiest possible way with friendship and coparenting our girls at the forefront of this next chapter. We appreciate your kindness respect and privacy at this time."

AJ and Rochelle shared in March 2023 that they were facing challenges in their relationship.

"Marriage is hard, but worth it," the pair told E! News in a statement at the time. "We have mutually decided to separate temporarily to work on ourselves, and on our marriage with the hope of building a stronger future."

However, the singer and hairstylist were optimistic they could rekindle their spark in the future.

"The plan is to come back together," they added, "and continue to nurture our love for one another, and our family."

Since then, AJ has been learning how to reprioritize and compartmentalize parts of his life. 

In fact, the 45-year-old told E! News in August that he actively tries "turning off AJ and letting him live in the world of Backstreet" when he's not performing.

"The biggest thing for me is knowing that AJ is a persona," he explained. "AJ is my job, but Alex is who I am."

AJ revealed that he's become "much happier" since learning how to manage his work-life balance, adding, "When AJ's done doing work, I'm Alex. I'm a husband, I'm a father, I'm a friend."

As for Rochelle, she's taking a page from Taylor Swift's playbook these days, saying in her Instagram bio, "best believe I'm still bejeweled."

Read on to see more stars who called it quits in recent months.

Four months after marrying, the Zac Brown Band frontman and his wife announced Dec. 29 in a joint statement to multiple outlets, "We are in the process of divorce. Our mutual respect for one another remains. We wish each other the best and will always appreciate our time together."

The comedian filed for divorce from her husband on Dec. 28, days before their fourth wedding anniversary. 

Hare today, gone tomorrow.

The model and the Puerto Rican artist both seemed to like it while it lasted, but People reported Dec. 17 that they were no longer a couple after about nine months of dating.

The parents of daughter Kulture and son Wave had their share of ups and downs since marrying in 2017, including a temporary breakup the following year and a divorce filing in 2020 that Cardi ultimately quashed.

But on Dec. 11, the "Up" artist indicated that she and Offset were done—for now or for good remains anyone's guess.

The Queer Eye star's rep announced on Nov. 22 that the food and drink expert and brand strategy director had ended their one-year engagement and four-year relationship.

OK, this may not technically be a 2023 breakup but only on Oct. 20 did we find out that the three-time Oscar winner and her artist husband had been separated for six years.

A rep for Streep noted in confirming the split, "While they will always care for each other, they have chosen lives apart."

The parents of Henry, Mamie, Grace and Louisa tied the knot in 1978.

The Oscar-winning actress confirmed her split from the sports commentator on Oct. 19.

"I find myself in a season of heartbreak because of a love suddenly and devastatingly extinguished by deception," she wrote in part on Instagram. "I am choosing to face the pain, cultivating the courage to meet my life exactly as it is, and trusting that this too shall pass."

The "I Could Use a Love Song" singer could've used something a little sadder after filing to end her marriage of five years on Oct. 2.

But Morris is hardly alone, as she reminded during a Dec. 13 appearance on The Howard Stern Show. "I think this year has—for a lot of people, not just me—a lot of people that are close to me have gone through it," the artist said. "I've known so many people that have gone through breakups or divorces."

The soccer stars—who are parents to Sloane and Ocean—broke up after nearly four years of marriage. According to online court records obtained by E! News, Ashlyn filed for divorce from Ali on Sept. 19 in Florida's Seminole County.

The singer confirmed on Instagram Sept. 17 that she and the former NBA star "are separated and have been for a while."

She added, "To be 1000% clear, 'infidelity' ain’t one of the reasons for our departure."

The pair are separating after 27 years of marriage, they told People Sept. 15.

The Jonas Brothers singer filed for divorce from the Game of Thrones alum on Sept. 5, writing that their four-year marriage is "irretrievably broken" in court documents obtained by E! News. 

The Summer House stars shocked fans in August when they reportedly called off their engagement just two and a half months before their Nov. 17 wedding in Mexico. 

The One Tree Hill star reportedly filed for divorce from the entrepreneur in August, one year after they tied the knot in his home state of Oklahoma.

The pair split just months after welcoming son Leodis Andrellton Jackson, multiple outlets reported in August.

The pop star and actor broke up after one year of marriage, multiple outlets reported Aug.16.

The rose wilted for the Bachelor Nation couple after four years together.

"We feel grateful to be ending our engagement with love and respect for each other," Jason wrote on Insatgram Aug. 6. "It's heartbreaking and sad to say goodbye, but our care and admiration for one another will never die."

The Canadian Prime Minster announced on Aug 2. that he and his wife decided to separate after 18 years of marriage.

The Bodies Bodies Bodies costars reportedly broke up in August after less than a year of dating.

The supermodel amicably split with her boyfriend after two years of dating, a source told E! News in July.

The Euphoria costars called it quits after more than a year together, with Dominic confirming in July that he was single. As he told Apple Music, "I'm just done being in relationships right now."

The mom of Beyoncé and Solange filed for divorce from the actor on July 26 after eight years of marriage. 

"Yes, a few months ago Rosi and I ended our engagement," Rauw Alejandro wrote in Spanish on Instagram Stories July 26. "There are thousands of problems that could cause a breakup, but in our case it was not due to third parties or infidelity."

The Growing Up Chrisley star and the influencer broke up nine months after their October 2022 engagement. "Everybody has been asking a lot of questions regarding Emmy and myself," Chase wrote on his Instagram Story July 25. "We both and [sic] agreed to part ways and move on with our lives separately. Thank you for respecting our privacy."

"We have made the difficult decision to divorce," the pair said in a joint statement to Page Six July 17. "As two people that love and care for one another very much, we politely ask for respect of our privacy at this time as we navigate this new phase of our lives."

After two years of marriage, the singer and real estate agent separated, E! News confirmed.

The Bear star and Californication actress split up in May 2023 after a little more than three years of marriage.

The couple called it quits after 18 years of marriage, with a rep for the Yellowstone star telling E! News in May, "It is with great sadness that circumstances beyond his control have transpired which have resulted in Mr. Costner having to participate in a dissolution of marriage action."

After 11 years of marriage, The Real Housewives of Atlanta alum filed for divorce from the former NFL player in May 2023.

In the divorce proceedings, Kim—who shares Kroy Jr., 11, Kash, 10, and 9-year-old twins Kane and Kaia with Kroy, and is also mom to Brielle, 25, and Ariana, 21—is also requesting primary physical custody of the kids and joint legal custody.

They called off the divorce in July but Kroy refiled in August.

Six months after the duo sparked romance rumors, a source confirmed to E! News in May that the singer and the music producer broke up.

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