Backstreet Boy singer AJ McLean (45) and his wife Rochelle DeAnna McLean (41) are taking a break. This is reported by the US celebrity portal "TMZ", citing the spouses. The pop star and his wife said: "We have mutually decided to separate temporarily to work on ourselves and our marriage".

The celebrity couple added, "Being married is tough but it's worth it." The goal of the temporary separation is "to get back together and continue to nurture the love for one another and for our family." During the separation period, the spouses ask for their privacy to be preserved.

AJ and Rochelle McLean tied the knot in 2011 after dating for six years. All other Backstreet Boys members, Nick Carter (43), Brian Littrell (48), Howie Dorough (49) and Kevin Richardson (51), attended the ceremony at the Beverly Hills Hotel. The couple have two daughters together, named Ava and Lyric.