Divorces in Hollywood are nothing new, but a couple separating with the aim to reunite again, now that’s something we rarely hear about in showbiz. But that’s what Backstreet Boys’ AJ McLean and his wife Rochelle have in mind with their separation. Here’s what we know about the couple’s plans for the future.
Not A Divorce
Backstreet Boys’ bandmate, AJ McLean, and wife, Rochelle DeAnna McLean, have parted ways but clarified that this separation is not a divorce but an opportunity to “work on themselves.”
Hard But Worth It
Talking about his marriage, the singer revealed, “Marriage is hard, but worth it. We have mutually decided to separate temporarily to work on ourselves, and on our marriage with the hope of building a stronger future.”
Plans To Reunite Again
Sharing his plans for the future , McLean stated, “The plan is to come back together and continue to nurture our love for one another and our family.”
An Appeal For Respect And Privacy
In the midst of the difficult decision that the couple has taken for their family, the actor appeals for “respect and privacy at this time.”
Not An Easy Decision
He further added, “Separation is hard enough without the commentary, please be kind and remember there are children involved.”
From Dating To A Marriage Proposal
Rochelle, a hairstylist and makeup artist, first met AJ in October 2001, and the two started dating in 2006, with McLean popping the big question on Rochelle’s birthday in January 2010.
Important Guests At The Wedding
The couple tied the knot at the Beverly Hills Hotel on December 17, 2011, and the remaining Backstreet Boys were some of the few celebrity guests in attendance that day.
Commemorating The 11th Anniversary With A Throwback
The duo recently celebrated their 11th wedding anniversary, and Rochelle commemorated the special day by sharing a black and white throwback picture of the couple on her Instagram.
Dedicating A Song
She captioned the beautiful picture of herself looking fondly at her husband with lyrics from November Rain and completed the caption with a black heart and a lyric emoji.
A Journey To Sobriety
In October 2020, AJ opened up about his sobriety journey after a long battle with his drug and alcohol addiction.
Not A Day Of Sobriety
The singer shared his 20-year-long experience with substance abuse with Good Morning America and revealed, “I was never sober. Not for a second.”
The Turning Point That Taught A Lesson
Talking about the turning point in his life, AJ revealed, “the turning point for me was when I came back home, my wife could smell it on my breath and my youngest of two daughters would not sit with me.”
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The Start Of An Integral Journey
Following that moment, AJ knew that he had to turn away from his way and has since maintained sobriety with the help of a sponsor and a program.
Too Much To Live For
Speaking about his motivation to change, the singer said, “There’s too much to live for today – my beautiful children, my amazing wife, my career, my brothers. I’ve never felt more grounded than I do today.
Taking The First Fall
Sharing the moment his drug addiction began, AJ recalled, “The first time I tried drugs was literally an hour before my call time to The Call video shoot,” and revealed being “off the walls” during that recording.
A Well-Kept Secret
For a while, AJ managed to keep his addiction a secret from his Backstreet Boys bandmates, Nick Carter , Brian Littrell, Kevin Richardson, and Howie Dorough, until they eventually caught on.
The Cat Gets Out Of The Bag
Recalling that moment, AJ shared, “When the boys kind of caught on, I missed out on rehearsal. They basically broke into my house, and they dumped ice water on me while I was passed out in my bed.”
Living A Lie
Talking about the challenges he faced during that time, AJ added, “Everybody started to catch on. I wasn’t me anymore, you know, I was just living a lie.”
Getting Used To The Rehab Life
AJ was first got admitted into rehab at the start of 2001 and then again in July 2011. His third and final time in a rehab facility was in 2011, and in September 2022, AJ was back in shape and celebrated a year of sobriety with friends and family.