AJ McLean and his wife Rochelle shocked fans when they announced their “temporary” separation earlier this week. Sources recently claimed that the two had problems months before the shocking revelation.

The estranged couple’s marriage has been crumbling for months, according to multiple insiders who spoke to Page Six.

According to one source, the two had lived apart since January, when the Backstreet Boys member left their marital home.

Another insider claimed that the couple’s split was “a long time coming” and that there is more to the story that the couple released to the public.

As of this writing, neither has confirmed whether or not the ongoing rumors about them are true.

According to initial reports, the couple spoke to a news outlet to reveal their relationship status, saying they decided to “separate temporarily” to work on their individual selves.

They also wanted to work on their marriage to build a better future for each other.

AJ McLean and Rochelle DeAnna-McLean have been married for almost 12 years and share two daughters.

Later in the interview, the Backstreet Boys singer asked fans and paparazzi to respect their privacy as they care for their children amid the controversy.

He added:

“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,”

According to People Magazine, the two first met in 2001. At the time, the musician’s wife worked as a server in Los Angeles, California, before she became a makeup artist and hairstylist.

After six years of dating, the couple married and had two children: 10-year-old Elliott and 6-year-old Lyric.

As of this writing, it is unclear what caused their breakup. However, the outlet shared a previous interview in which the musician opened up about his drug and alcohol struggles, saying it nearly tore his family apart.

He recalled that there was a point when his wife and kids left him, but his ego always told him that they would come back, adding:

“If I were her, I would have left, but she’s always been able to see through the BS to who I really am.”

In other updates, The Backstreet Boys has a few shows left in their current tour. On April 28, 2023, they will perform at the Laugardalshöll in Reykjavik, Iceland.

They also perform in countries such as Egypt, India, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia.

Visit their official website at this link for more information on the band’s upcoming shows, tickets, and complete tour dates.