In some people's opinion, Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez's 2021 split was a long time
coming.
MLB fans and fans of JLo's music remember the joyful engagement announcement from 2019
when A-Rod got down on one knee and gave his longtime girlfriend a massive engagement ring.
This wasn't the pop star's first trip around the block either; JLo already had multiple
failed marriages — as the pop star had been previously married three times: to Ojani Noa
, Cris Judd, and Marc Anthony, respectively. She also had one canceled engagement with
Ben Affleck.
A-Rod had also come from a fairly complicated divorce from his ex-wife Cynthia Scurtis,
so he didn't necessarily have the best track record for relationship longevity. Nevertheless,
the couple seamlessly blended their families, businesses, and property ventures, but, like
most whirlwind romances, the story of JLo and A-Rod didn't end well.
Rumors of infidelity and a painful breakup hit the stands at the beginning of 2021. The
couple finally confirmed the stories in a joint statement later that year. As we said,
some were surprised, but others weren't. According to sources close to the stars, there was one
turning point in the relationship from which the couple couldn't recover.
"The only thing we take when it's all said and done, is the smiles, the love and the
memories."
Though they officially confirmed their split in April 2021, insiders close to the couple
told Page Six that the writing had been on the wall for months. Apparently, the death
knell came in the form of Rodriguez's decision to purchase the Minnesota Timberwolves with
a friend rather than with JLo.
An unnamed source referenced the couples failed attempt to purchase the New York Mets together
in 2020 telling the outlet -
"It was clear they had split when she wasn't in the Timberwolves deal like she was in the
Mets bid — maybe she didn't want to move to Minnesota."
The source went on to add -
"She would have added a lot more glamour to the team. But when you own a team, you have
to be in the city — you have to be there, you have to go to every game."
Another source told the outlet that just because Lopez and Rodriguez are no longer together,
it doesn't mean they don't plan to continue their businesses together, saying -
"They've built something really unique together. The success of their business partnerships
and goals are important to them."
Although the writing may have been on the wall for Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez
as soon as he signed that deal, they apparently tried to make it work. When rumors first started
to swirl around about their breakup, many sources close to the couple claimed that nothing
was official just yet. In March 2021, for example, he flew down to the Dominican Republic
where she was shooting a film to show that he was all in on the relationship. A source
told People at the time -
"Jennifer was excited to see him in person. They are really trying to figure things out.
It was a happy reunion."
The source added that Lopez was at first set on breaking up with him, so she was happy
they were making things work and taking steps in the right direction.
Another source told the outlet that even though they had seemingly broken their engagement
at the time, they had never actually broken up, with the source saying -
"They hit a rough patch."
But it just wasn't enough to make it work. Weeks after Alex Rodriguez's trip down to
the Dominican Republic, the couple released a statement making their split official. They
said in a statement to 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."
A-Rod apparently wasn't taking it very well. He posted a now-expired Instagram Story, via
Glamour, the night before they released their statement. In the heartbreaking video, the
camera slowly panned over pictures of Rodriguez and Lopez together throughout their relationship,
including one photo of their names written in the sand on the beach. It seems that even
when you're A-Rod and JLo, breakups are hard.
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