This Is What Signaled Jennifer Lopez And Alex Rodriguez's Split

According to experts, Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez's 2021 split was a long time coming. It was expected by some, but a shock to others. MLB fans and fans of JLo's music remember the joyful engagement announcement from 2019 when A-Rod got down on one knee and gave his longtime girlfriend a massive engagement ring. This wasn't the pop star's first trip around the block either; JLo already had multiple failed marriages — as the pop star had been previously married three times: to Ojani Noa, Cris Judd, and Marc Anthony, respectively. She also had one canceled engagement with Ben Affleck.

A-Rod had also come from a fairly complicated divorce from his ex-wife Cynthia Scurtis, so he didn't necessarily have the best track record for relationship longevity. Nevertheless, the couple seamlessly blended their families, businesses, and property ventures, but, like most whirlwind romances, the story of JLo and A-Rod didn't end well.

Rumors of infidelity and a painful breakup hit the stands at the beginning of 2021. The couple finally confirmed the stories in a joint statement later that year. As we said, some were surprised, but others weren't. According to sources close to the stars, there was one turning point in the relationship from which the couple couldn't recover. Here's what we know.

When Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez got together, they moved fast. The couple quickly combined their families, purchased property, and embarked on a few business ventures together. Though they officially confirmed their split in April 2021, insiders close to the couple told Page Six that the writing had been on the wall for months. Apparently, the death knell came in the form of Rodriguez's decision to purchase the Minnesota Timberwolves with a friend rather than with JLo.

"It was clear they had split when she wasn't in the Timberwolves deal like she was in the Mets bid — maybe she didn't want to move to Minnesota," the unnamed source told the outlet, referring to the couples unsuccessful attempt to purchase the New York Mets together in 2020.

The source seemed to think that Lopez wouldn't want to relocate to Minnesota (after all, it does get pretty cold). "She would have added a lot more glamour to the team. But when you own a team, you have to be in the city — you have to be there, you have to go to every game," they said. Another source told the outlet that just because Lopez and Rodriguez are no longer together, it doesn't mean they don't plan to continue their businesses together. "They love working together."

"They've built something really unique together," the insider added. "The success of their business partnerships and goals are important to them."

TBH, that's a refreshing twist on a messy celebrity split.

Although the writing may have been on the wall for Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez as soon as he signed that deal, they really did seem to try to make it work. When rumors first started to swirl around about their breakup, many sources close to the couple claimed that nothing was official just yet. In March 2021, for example, he flew down to the Dominican Republic where she was shooting a film to show that he was all in. A source told People at the time, "Jennifer was excited to see him in person. They are really trying to figure things out. It was a happy reunion." The source added that Lopez was at first "very much ready to give up" on him, so she was happy they were making things work and taking steps in the right direction. 

Another source told the outlet that even though they had seemingly broken their engagement at the time, they had never "officially" broken up. "They hit a rough patch," the source said. 

But it just wasn't enough to make it work. Weeks after Alex Rodriguez's trip down to the Dominican Republic, the couple released a statement making their split official. They said in a statement to Today, "We have realized we are better as friends and look forward to remaining so." Interestingly enough, they noted that they "will continue to work together and support each other on our shared businesses and projects," adding, "We wish the best for each other and one another's children. Out of respect for them, the only other comment we have is to say is thank you to everyone who has sent kind words and support." 

A-Rod apparently wasn't taking it very well. He posted a now-expired Instagram Story, via Glamour, the night before they released their statement. In the heartbreaking video, the camera slowly panned over pictures of Rodriguez and Lopez together throughout their relationship, including one photo of their names written in the sand on the beach. He added a blue heart, and tagged JLo — all while Coldplay's "Fix You" played in the background. Even when you're A-Rod and JLo, breakups are hard to do. 

The two will hopefully remain close, especially for their families — because they really did have a good run.