The Backstreet Boys singer, 45, and Rochelle, 42, previously shared in March that they had “temporarily” separated and had hopes of reconciling in the future. Nine months later, on Jan. 1, the pair announced the end of their relationship on AJ’s Instagram.
“As you all know we have been separated for over a year now,” they wrote on social media. “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.”
AJ and Rochelle, who recently attended a screening of Trolls: Band Together with their daughters Elliott and Lyric, plan to remain friends.
“Our focus now is moving forward in the healthiest way possible with friendship and co-parenting our girls at the forefront of this next chapter,” they continued in the statement. “We appreciate your kindness, respect, and privacy at this time.”
AJ and Rochelle married in December 2011 in Los Angeles. They had met three years earlier while she was waitressing at a restaurant.
In a statement released in March, the pair detailed their separation.
“Marriage is hard, but worth it,” they said.
“We have mutually decided to separate temporarily to work on ourselves, and on our marriage with the hope of building a stronger future. 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.”