Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony were married for 10 years before calling it quits.
Lopez and Anthony tied the knot in 2004, four years before they welcomed twins Max and Emme in 2008. The pair, however, ultimately went their separate ways in 2014.
“We have decided to end our marriage. This was a very difficult decision. We have come to an amicable conclusion on all matters,” the now-exes told Us Weekly in a joint statement. “It is a painful time for all involved, and we appreciate the respect of our privacy at this time.”
Despite their divorce, the two musicians have worked to amicably coparent their kids. (Anthony also has five other children from other relationships.)
Keep scrolling to read about Lopez and Anthony’s post-split dynamic in their own words:
What Went Wrong
Marc Anthony hinted in a September 2011 interview with Nightline that his breakup from Jennifer Lopez was mutual.
“I’ll tell you that it wasn’t something sensationalistic happening,” Anthony said. “It was a realization on both our parts. So, you know, it wasn’t shocking. These things happen. It was a decision that we made jointly. This is not a funeral. This is not a burial.”
He continued, “This is just two people who came together and just realized. I’m saying that it wasn’t sustainable the way it was, and that’s that.”
While Anthony stressed that he and Lopez likely would never reconcile, he would “always love” the Hustlers actress.
Putting Pen to Paper
Marc Anthony reacted to Jennifer Lopez chronicling their whirlwind marriage and subsequent divorce in her 2014 memoir, True Love.
“We’re close that way,” Anthony said on a February 2015 episode of The Meredith Vieira Show, confirming that he read an advance copy of the book. “We trust each other. I was proud of her. I know what it takes and I know her very, very well. I just did everything in my power to be supportive of her.”
As for Anthony, he’s opted not to speak about their relationship in the years since they parted ways.
“I just think that’s private,” he said. “I never have, and I’m not sure I ever will … for public consumption as hard enough as it is.”
Moving Forward
In an April 2016 cover story for W magazine, Jennifer Lopez revealed when she realized her marriage to Marc Anthony was over.
“I hung in there for seven years,” Lopez told the outlet. “I knew very quickly that it wasn’t the right thing.”
She continued, “When my marriage ended, it was not easy to find forgiveness. It wasn’t the dream that I had hoped for, and it would have been easier to fan the flames of resentment, disappointment and anger. Marc is the father of my children, and that’s never going away. So, I have to work to make things right, and that is, by far, the hardest work I do.”
A ‘Living Legend’
Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony performed together at the Latin Grammy Awards in November 2016.
“Marc is a living legend,” Lopez said in Spanish after their duet. “He is a magical and pure artist giving away classics that will stay forever. He will always be many things in my life.”
‘Good How We Are’
Jennifer Lopez opened up about her coparenting dynamic with Marc Anthony during a March 2017 episode of The View.
“Marc and I are good how we are right now,” she said. “There’s a reason we’re not together, but we’re great friends. And we’re parents together. We’re even working on a Spanish album together. [And] that has been even better for us. We met working, and that’s where we’re really magical, when we’re on stage together, and so we leave it there. That’s it.”
They’re Best Friends
“We are like best friends,” Jennifer Lopez said on Live With Kelly and Mark in March 2017. “We are making an album now. Actually, he’s helping me make my Spanish album. At first I was like, we’re good with the kids, but if we start working together, are we going to start going at each other again? But it’s been awesome. Honestly, I think it’s even helped our relationship and it’s made things even better.”
According to Lopez, her divorce also impacted twins Max and Emme.
“We are just in a really great place and the kids get to spend time with the two of us more together and see us working together,” she said. “Its just good for them, it was good for us. It was just good for the whole family.”
