Backstreet Boys' AJ McLean and wife Rochelle announce divorce after 12-year marriage

AJ McLean and his longtime love Rochelle Deanna Karidis announced their divorce less than a year after revealing that they "separated temporarily."

The Backstreet Boys star shared the news in a joint statement with Rochelle on Instagram on Tuesday, Jan. 2, adding a crying emoji in the caption. "As you all know, we have been separated for over a year now. While we have hoped for reconciliation, we have decided to officially end our marriage," they began.

The former couple emphasized that they made the decision "with deep love and respect."

"Our focus now is moving forward in the healthiest possible way with friendship and co-parenting our girls at the forefront of this next chapter," they continued. "We appreciate your kindness, respect, and privacy at this time."

AJ and Rochelle first opened up about their rocky relationship in March last year. "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," they said in a statement provided to E! Online.

At the time, they noted that their plan was "to come back together" and to "continue to nurture [their] love for one another and [their] family."

The two got married at the Beverly Hills Hotel in December 2011. According to E! Online, they have been focusing on "amicably raising" their children—11-year-old Elliott and 6-year-old Lyric—since their split.