Backstreet Boys’ AJ McLean has split from his 42-year-old wife Rochelle DeAnna McLean for good.
On Monday – New Year’s Day- the 45-year-old crooner shared to Instagram that their 2022 separation will end in divorce.
‘As you all know we have been separated for over a year now,’ read the statement.
‘While we have hoped for reconciliation we have decided to officially end our marriage.
‘It is with deep love and respect that we have made this decision.
‘Our focus now is moving forward in the healthiest possible way with friendship and coparenting our girls at the forefront of this next chapter. We appreciate your kindness respect and privacy at this time.’
The note was signed by both AJ and Rochelle.
The couple, who share two daughters, married in 2011 after dating for six years. They met in 2001.
Backstreet Boys’ AJ McLean has split from his wife Rochelle DeAnna McLean for good. On Monday – New Year’s Day- the crooner shared to Instagram that their 2022 separation has ended in divorce
His note was shared early on Monday morning via Instagram
In March 2023, he announced they had separated.
They told TMZ at the time that they had no plans to divorce but wanted to ‘work on themselves.’
‘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,’ he told the outlet.
‘The plan is to come back together and continue to nurture our love for one another, and our family. We ask for respect and privacy at this time.’
‘Separation is hard enough without the commentary, please be kind and remember there are children involved,’ the statement concluded.
AJ and Rochelle, a makeup artist and hairstylist, met in October 2001.
The duo began dating in 2006, with the singer proposing to her on his birthday – January 9, 2010.
They married on December 17, 2011 at the Beverly Hills hotel with his Backstreet Boys bandmates in attendance.
Rochelle commemorated their 11th anniversary in December 2022 with a throwback snap of them, adding lyrics from a Guns N’ Roses song called November Rain.
McLean promoting Fashion Hero: A New Kind of Beautiful in November
Family: The couple, who share two daughters, married in 2011 after dating for six years
‘And when your fears subside/ And shadows still remain, oh yeah/ I know that you can love me when there’s no one left to blame/So never mind the darkness, we still can find a way/’Cause nothin’ last forever, even cold November rain.’
She added #eleven in honor of their 11th wedding anniversary and a black heart and lyric emoji.
In October 2020, AJ spoke out about his sobriety journey after a 20 year addiction to drugs and alcohol.
He had just returned home from a trip to Las Vegas.
‘I was never sober. Not for a second. And 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,’ he told Good Morning America.
Following that moment, AJ has maintained his sobriety and works with a program and sponsor.
‘As you all know we have been separated for over a year now,’ read the statement. ‘While we have hoped for reconciliation we have decided to officially end our marriage. ‘It is with deep love and respect that we have made this decision’
Adding: ‘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.’
During the same interview, AJ revealed when his drug addiction started.
‘The first time I tried drugs was literally an hour before my call time to The Call video shoot,’ he recalled.
‘I was off the walls’ during the video shoot.
His drug addiction was a secret for a while until his Backstreet Boys band mates Nick Carter, Brian Littrell, Kevin Richardson and Howie Dorough caught on.
‘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.’
‘Everybody started to catch on. I wasn’t me anymore, you know, I was just living a lie,’ AJ said.
He first went to rehab in July 2001, entering again in 2001. The star went for a third time in 2011.
AJ, Nick, Brian, Kevin and Howie formed Backstreet Boys in 1993; last year they were on their DNA World Tour, in support of their 2019 album DNA. Seen in 2018
In September 2022, AJ revealed he was in the best shape of his life and also one year sober during an interview with Today.
The star revealed he lost 32 pounds since starting his lifestyle change in February 2022.
AJ has been sober since September 27, 2022.
He removed alcohol and fast food from his diet and worked with a trainer.
AJ and Rochelle are parents to Ava, 11, and Lyric, seven. Ava decided to change her name to Elliott last year.
In September 2022, AJ opened up about the name change, revealing that she felt like her name wasn’t unique. ‘When my daughter asked to change her name to Elliot, initially, I didn’t know if it was a transgender thing, which it is not, but it is a personal choice,’ he said during an appearance on the Today show, via Page Six.
AJ, Nick, Brian, Kevin and Howie formed Backstreet Boys in 1993; last year they were on their DNA World Tour, in support of their 2019 album DNA.
The tour began in May 2019 with a two-year hiatus from March 2020 until April 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.