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AJ McLean Talks to Estranged Wife Rochelle ‘Everyday’ Despite Separation on November 11, 2023 at 12:54 am Us Weekly

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Rochelle McLean and AJ McLean. Valerie Macon/Getty Images

AJ McLean and estranged wife Rochelle McLean are still close and working on their relationship despite separating earlier this year.

“We still live separately, but we are in couples therapy. We are in individual therapy. We talk every day. We are spending more time together,” AJ, 45, said of his relationship with Rochelle, 42, on the Tuesday, November 7, episode of Cheryl Burke’s “Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans” podcast. “We just have to rebuild something that was never there from the beginning.”

The Backstreet Boys member acknowledged that both he and Rochelle — who wed in 2011 — had their own respective issues at the beginning of their relationship. While AJ didn’t comment on his partner’s struggles, he noted that his battle with substance abuse affected him greatly. (The singer recently celebrated being two years sober.)

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“I came with baggage, she came with baggage. She had trauma, I had trauma. I wasn’t sober or even ready to get sober, she was dealing with her own s–t,” AJ explained. “It was just a constant push-pull. She would sweep her feelings under the rug, I would do the same thing or I’d dive into a bottle. Now, it’s taken this time apart for us to really do some serious growing and understanding and listening.”

Related: AJ McLean and Rochelle McLean’s Relationship Timeline

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AJ McLean and Rochelle McLean have always put their marriage first — even in the wake of their temporary separation. While the couple first met in 2008, their connection didn’t blossom until later. AJ asked out for the first while Rochelle worked as a waitress at Saddle Ranch in West Hollywood. While she rejected him […]

Amid his healing journey with Rochelle, AJ shared that he has also improved his communication with the duo’s daughters, Elliot, 10, and Lyric, 6. AJ credits his family’s tight-knit bond to the acronym “luver” which stands for listen, understand, vulnerable, empathy, and reiterate.

Elliot McLean, AJ McLean, Lyric McLean, Rochelle DeAnna McLean, and Denise McLean, September 2023. Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for Rookie USA

“If you and I are having a conversation and you’re telling me your feelings, I’m validating your feelings, I’m hearing your feelings and I have empathy because normally I would twist it and make it about me. Not anymore,” he shared. “Luver is a great way to communicate not only with your partner, but just people in general. Have empathy, listen to them, [and] validate their feelings because they are their feelings.”

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Related: Nick! AJ! Howie! A Guide to the Backstreet Boys’ Love Lives Over the Years

As long as you love them! The Backstreet Boys have been tugging on fans’ heartstrings with their love songs since the ’90s, but the band members’ real-life romances have been just as sweet. Nick Carter married fitness trainer Lauren Kitt in April 2014 after six years of dating. The pair went on to welcome son […]

In March 2023, AJ and Rochelle announced that they decided to briefly separate with the hopes of saving their relationship.

“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,” the couple told Us Weekly in a joint statement at the time. “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.”

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AJ McLean and estranged wife Rochelle McLean are still close and working on their relationship despite separating earlier this year. “We still live separately, but we are in couples therapy. We are in individual therapy. We talk every day. We are spending more time together,” AJ, 45, said of his relationship with Rochelle, 42, on 

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Kim and Kanye’s Daughter North West Faces Criticism Over Her Tattoos

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North West, the 12-year-old daughter of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, is under the spotlight once again — this time for showing off a collection of tattoos that set social media on fire. In recent photos and videos circulating online, North was seen with several arm designs, including tributes to her parents and fashion-inspired symbols. While fans were quick to admire her bold style, not everyone was impressed.

Critics argue that the tattoos — even though they appear to be temporary — are another example of celebrity children being pushed into adult trends too early. Comments flooded social media platforms, with some users saying Kim allows North too much freedom, while others defended the reality star’s parenting approach, praising her for letting her daughter explore creativity and self-expression.

“Kids should be kids,” one commenter wrote, reflecting a broader sentiment among parents online. Meanwhile, supporters pointed out that North comes from one of the most fashion-forward families in the world and that experimenting with style is part of her upbringing.

Kim Kardashian has not directly addressed the controversy, but she has often spoken about encouraging her children to express themselves authentically. North, already known for her viral TikTok appearances and fashion collaborations, seems unfazed by the criticism.

At just 12, North West continues to blur the lines between youth culture and celebrity identity — reminding the public that in the Kardashian–West household, individuality isn’t just allowed, it’s celebrated.

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Jennifer Lopez’s Ex Fires Back: “You Are the Problem”

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Ojani Noa Accuses J.Lo of Cheating After “Never Been Loved” Comments

Jennifer Lopez is once again at the center of a media storm — but this time, it’s her first husband, Ojani Noa, turning up the heat. Following Lopez’s recent Howard Stern Show interview, in which she claimed she has “never been truly loved” by any of her exes, Noa has publicly accused the superstar of cheating and playing the victim.

In the viral Instagram post that has now spread across major outlets like TMZ and New York Post, Noa didn’t hold back.

“Stop putting us down. Stop putting me down with your victim card,” he wrote. “The problem is not us. Not me. The problem is you. You’re the one who couldn’t keep it in your pants.”

“You Chose Fame and Lies Over Love”

Noa and Lopez were married briefly from 1997 to 1998, before her rise to Hollywood superstardom. In his explosive statement, he accused her of being unfaithful during their marriage, claiming she prioritized fame over their relationship.

“You have been loved a few times. You’ve been married four times. And have had countless relationships in between,” Noa continued. “You decided to lie, to cheat on me. You begged me to keep the marriage intact to avoid bad press.”

Noa described himself as “faithful, honest, and loving,” saying he uprooted his life and career to support Lopez at the beginning of her entertainment journey. “I left my family, my friends, everything behind for you,” he wrote, “but once fame came calling, you left me behind.”​

Lopez Silent Amid Growing Backlash

As of now, Jennifer Lopez has not publicly responded to Noa’s allegations. During her Howard Stern interview, the singer and actress claimed her former partners “weren’t capable” of loving her, saying, “It’s not that I’m not lovable… it’s that they’re not capable.”

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Her remarks were widely interpreted as referencing all of her ex-husbands — including Marc Anthony, Cris Judd, and Ben Affleck — but it was Noa who reacted first and most forcefully. His comments have ignited widespread debate online, with many questioning whether Lopez’s honesty came at the expense of others’ reputations.

Public Response and Media Fallout

The online reaction has been intense, with social media users split between defending Lopez’s right to share her truth and blasting her for allegedly rewriting history. Meanwhile, entertainment analysts note that the controversy adds to an increasingly turbulent year for the singer, following canceled tours, underperforming films, and ongoing scrutiny over her marriage to Affleck.

This latest backlash has also reignited conversations about Lopez’s highly publicized romantic history. As tabloids and fans speculate whether more exes might respond, the situation underscores an old truth in celebrity culture — that every candid confession comes with consequences.

For now, Jennifer Lopez remains silent. But in the court of public opinion, the debate about who’s really at fault in her love story is only just beginning.

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Selling Your Soul in Hollywood: The Hidden Cost of Fame

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By all appearances, Hollywood is a dream factory — a place where charisma, talent, and luck collide to create stars. But behind the camera lights and red carpets lies a conversation few inside the industry speak openly about: the spiritual and moral price of ambition.

For actor Omar Gooding, the idea of “selling your soul” in Hollywood isn’t a metaphor — it’s a moral process that begins with tiny compromises. In an October 2025 interview, Gooding explained that no one in Hollywood makes a literal deal with the devil. Instead, it’s the quiet yeses, the moments when comfort overrides conviction, that mark the beginning of the trade. “They don’t say, ‘Take this or you’ll never make it,’” he said. “They just put it in front of you. You choose.”

Those choices, he argues, create a pattern. Once you show that you’ll accept something you once resisted, the industry notices. “Hollywood knows who it can get away with what,” Gooding said. “One thing always leads to another.” The phrase “selling your soul,” in this context, means losing your say — doing what you’re told rather than what you believe in.

That moral tension has long shadowed the arts. Comedians like Dave Chappelle, who famously walked away from millions to preserve his creative integrity, often serve as examples of where conviction and career collide. In resurfaced interviews, Chappelle hinted that he felt manipulated and silenced by powerful figures who sought control of his narrative, warning that “they’re trying to convince me I’m insane.”

This isn’t just about conspiracy — it’s about agency. Hollywood runs on perception. Performers are rewarded for being agreeable, moldable, entertaining. Those who question the machine or refuse the script risk exile, while those who conform are elevated — sometimes beyond what they can handle.

We see the ‘collections’ all the time,” Gooding explained. “When the bill comes due, you can tell. They made that deal long ago.”

But the story doesn’t end in darkness. Gooding also emphasizes that in today’s entertainment landscape, artists have more control than ever. With streaming, social media, and creator‑driven platforms, performers don’t have to “play the game” to be seen. Independent creators can build their own stages, speak their own truths, and reach millions without trading authenticity for access.

Still, the temptation remains — recognition, validation, quick success. And every generation of artists must answer the same question: What are you willing to do for fame?

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As Gooding put it, “You just make the best choices you can. Because once it’s gone — your name, your peace, your soul — there’s no buying it back.”

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