Mariah Carey and Bryan Tanaka were a fan-favorite duo for seven years, but they’ve called it quits. Fans started to speculate about their relationship status in November, but Bryan confirmed their breakup in an Instagram post on Tuesday, December 26.
Bryan didn’t divulge much about why they split, but he revealed that their breakup was “amicable.” So, why did they split up? Keep reading to find out.
Why Did Mariah Carey and Bryan Tanaka Break Up?
Just weeks after split speculation swirled, Page Six reported on December 20 that Bryan and Mariah were officially over. As for the reason behind their sudden split, a source told the outlet that Bryan “wants to have a family. That’s not where she is at.”
In November, Mariah performed on her Merry Christmas One and All! tour without Bryan, who would usually accompany her as a backup dancer. Although neither the “Always Be My Baby” artist nor the choreographer addressed his absence, fans were convinced that this was a clear sign of a breakup. However, it’s still unclear when the pair officially split.
Bryan broke his silence on December 26, 2023, confirming the split. “With mixed emotions, I share this personal update regarding my amicable separation from Mariah Carey after seven extraordinary years together,” he began. “Our decision to embark on different paths is mutual, and as we navigate these separate journeys, we do so with profound respect and an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the invaluable time we shared. The memories we’ve created and the artistic collaborations are etched in my heart forever.”
He continued and praised the many positive qualities about his ex. “Mariah’s dedication to her family and her commitment to her craft have inspired us during our shared journey. I want to express my love and appreciation for Mariah and her incredible children, whose warmth and kindness have enriched my life in ways words cannot capture.”
The last time that Mariah and Bryan were seen together was in March 2023, when he posted an anniversary shout-out for Mariah on Instagram.
This wasn’t the first time when the former couple had broken up though. They briefly split in 2017, according to multiple outlets, but apparently rekindled their romance one month later after they were spotted sharing a kiss in Los Angeles.
When Did Mariah and Bryan Meet?
The former dynamic duo first met in 2006 during Mariah’s Adventures of Mimi tour when Bryan worked as one of Mariah’s backup dancers. He later became her creative director. Ten years later, they started dating, as Bryan gushed over his then-girlfriend during an interview with E!, adding that he “always had a thing for Mariah.”
“I love her so much,” the pro dancer added at the time. “We’ve been friends for a long time. I do a little dance move here and there and we have a good time. It will be fun.”
Bryan later explained how his and Mariah’s friendship evolved into a romance, noting, “Something connected with us back in the day and there was just a mutual admiration. She saw something in me that I actually didn’t recognize at first, from that it was over. It was set in history that we were gonna be connected some way, somehow.”
In 2017, Mariah broke her silence about her and Bryan’s romance during an interview with the Associated Press. While the “All I Want for Christmas” artist didn’t publicly mention Bryan by name, she called him her “boyfriend.”
“I’m just going to be, like, ‘I really don’t talk about my personal life.’ Because that’s what I used to do and it really worked for a minute, back, a while ago,” she explained. “I just don’t feel comfortable talking about my personal life. … Me and my boyfriend don’t want to do that.”