After shutting down rumors they were splitting up in March, Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez have officially called off their engagement.
“We have realized we are better as friends and look forward to remaining so,” the two said in a joint statement first reported by NBC’s Today. “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.”
Lopez, 51, and Rodriguez, 45, began dating in 2017. They got engaged in March 2019 but postponed their wedding twice, citing pandemic concerns.
Several weeks ago, after rumors of a breakup began swirling online, the couple announced their commitment to staying together and making it work. “All the reports are inaccurate. We are working through some things,” they said in a statement at the time.
It appeared they were putting in an effort to make it work amid the rumors. In March, Rodriguez flew to the Dominican Republic where Lopez was filming the movie Shotgun Wedding so they could spend time together.
Weeks later, Rodriguez posted an Instagram photo of him and Lopez together, smiling. However, they were promoting a nutritional gummy supplement.
This is not Lopez’s first high-profile engagement to end. Ben Affleck famously called off their engagement in 2004, after dating for one and a half years. But despite their breakup, Affleck had nothing but good words for Lopez recently, calling her “the hardest-working person I’ve come across in this business.”
Lopez has been married three times, to waiter Ojani Noa from 1997–1998; to dancer Cris Judd from 2001–2002; and to singer Marc Anthony from 2004–2014, with whom she shares twins Emme and Max, 13.
Rodriguez was previously married from 2002–2008 to Cynthia Scurtis, with whom he shares daughters Natasha, 16, and Ella, 12.