Alex Rodriguez, Jennifer Lopez announce breakup: 'We are better as friends'

Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez confirmed Thursday what some suspected in March: They are over. The pair announced their breakup to TODAY, saying they are "better as friends."

Lopez and Rodriguez released a joint statement announcing the split:

"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 to say is thank you to everyone who has sent kind words and support."

The news comes a month after a report suggesting the couple had broken up. Lopez and Rodriguez denied that report at the time, saying they were "working through some things."

Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez got engaged in 2019

Lopez and Rodriguez started dating in 2017, and got engaged in 2019. They were supposed to get married in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic pushed back the event twice.

Rumors that Lopez and Rodriguez called it quits got louder Sunday, when Lopez posted a picture on Instagram in which she was no longer wearing her engagement ring.

On Wednesday, Rodriguez posted a photo to Instagram of himself with his two daughters. In the post, Rodriguez said he was "grateful" for his "health, family friends and life's many blessings."

Rodriguez also posted a video to his Instagram story that showed pictures of Lopez with Rodriguez and his family. The song "Fix You" by Coldplay can be heard as Rodriguez pans through the photos and finishes on a picture of a heart in the sand with the names "Jennifer + Alex" in the middle.

Rodriguez used the part of the song where Coldplay's Chris Martin sings the lyrics "tears stream down your face."

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