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Love comes first, then comes marriage, then comes a surprise public divorce? That’s how the nursery rhyme went, right? Well, it’s certainly how things went for dancer and actress Jenna Dewan and her husband Channing Tatum. After nine long years of marriage, the two decided to call it quits, shocking fans who had basically seen them as #couplegoals.

Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan Tatum
Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan | Greg Doherty/Getty Images

Jenna Dewan and Channing Tatum’s relationship

Dewan and Tatum met while filming 2006’s Step Up. The two played characters who fell in love and in this instance, real-life mimicked art. The pair wed three years later in 2009. In 2013, they welcomed their daughter, Everly, into the world.

For the most part, the couple seemed genuinely happy with one another. They commonly made appearances together and never showed any sign that their relationship was on the rocks.

Jenna Dewan and Channing Tatum call it quits

The couple announced their separation in April.

“Hey world!” they said in a joint statement obtained by People. “So…We have something we would like to share. First off, it feels odd that we have to share this kind of thing with everyone, but it’s a consequence of the lives we’ve chosen to lead, which we also happen to be deeply grateful for. We’re living in an incredible moment in time, but it’s also a time where truth can easily get distorted into ‘alternative facts.’ So we want to share the truth so you know that if you didn’t read it here then it’s most certainly fiction.”

“We have lovingly chosen to separate as a couple. We fell deeply in love so many years ago and have had a magical journey together. Absolutely nothing has changed about how much we love one another, but love is a beautiful adventure that is taking us on different paths for now. There are no secrets nor salacious events at the root of our decision — just two best-friends realizing it’s time to take some space and help each other live the most joyous, fulfilled lives as possible.”

They concluded, saying that their top priority would always be their daughter.

“We are still a family and will always be loving dedicated parents to Everly. We won’t be commenting beyond this, and we thank you all in advance for respecting our family’s privacy.  Sending lots of love to everyone, Chan&Jenna.”

Why did Jenna Dewan break up with Channing Tatum?

In her new book, Gracefully You: How To Live Your Best Life Every Day, Dewan got candid about what happened between her and Tatum.

“I’d come to realize the dynamic I was in wasn’t serving me nor was it serving my daughter,” she said. “First and foremost I had to accept the realization this isn’t working and had moved into hurting.”

Life after the breakup

Since the breakup, Tatum has begun seeing pop star Jessie J. Dewan reportedly found out about the relationship along with everyone else.

“There I was, on a plane, alone, finding out about his new relationship…I felt blindsided,” she wrote in her book.

But Dewan isn’t lonely these days. She is now dating actor and singer Steve Kazee and the two are expecting a child together.

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