Last Friday, popular singer-actress Jennifer Lopez and her equally famous husband, Marc Anthony, announced their decision to end the marriage.
The joint statement made to People magazine revealed that they had already ‘come to an amicable conclusion on all matters’.
The couple was married in a low-key ceremony in 2004 at J.Lo’s Beverly Hills home. They have a pair of fraternal twins, Emme and Max, who were born in February 2008 and are now 3-years-old.
They renewed their vows in 2008 and again last year. For most, their decision to split was a shocking one. In the joint statement made, they said: ‘it is a painful time for all involved and we appreciate the respect of our privacy at this time.’
This is Anthony’s second marriage and Lopez’s third. The two of them were long time friends before they tied the knot, just days after Anthony’s divorce to his first wife was finalized. Back then; Lopez had also just broken off her 18-month engagement to Ben Affleck.
The resolve to split came after ‘months of non-stop arguing’ as told by a source close to the family. There were professional disagreements as well as suspicions of infidelity. Us Weekly mag claimed that Anthony tried to call the shots over Lopez’s wardrobe choices for a Us photo shoot last year. He allegedly shot down one of her choices as ‘too sexy and unbecoming for a 40-year-old mother of two.’ One Us source even called him a ‘dominating husband.’ However, an ‘American Idol’ source told E! News that Lopez was devoted to her husband, treating his professional opinions as if they were coming from a manager. But a source close to the couple saw it differently, telling E!, “He was all over her all the time — about everything — and I know she tried very hard, and for a long time, to act like it didn’t bother her, but I know it did. A lot.”
An Anthony insider disputes any infidelity claims and maintains he always supported her career. ‘They started to see life differently,’ the source says. As they move on to the next chapters of their lives, the Anthony insider also says the breakup is for the best. ‘Though they love, admire and respect each other very much, they just needed to be apart.’
After the couple announced their split, there were reports linking Lopez romantically to William Levy, the hunk in her “I’m Into You” music video. Levy’s rep, however, told TMZ that the “only relationship there was or is, is a professional relationship. That’s all there’s ever been.”
While it is unknown who will receive custody the children, in the short term they will be hanging with mum for a bit in Atlanta while she’s filming ‘What to Expect When You’re Expecting.’ In the meantime, as we wait for more updates on their finalized divorce proceedings, share with us your thoughts. While they may be celebrities, they don’t seem to be able to run away from marital problems like any one of us. Is divorce necessary or is it an easy solution that more and more people seem to take.
Photo credit: LATimes, Wonderwall