A. J. McLean and his wife Rochelle Deanna McLean announced this week that they had decided to temporarily separate to “work on ourselves and our marriage” in hopes of reconciling in the future.
And as a sign of his commitment to his family, the Backstreet Boys star brought the estranged couple’s two daughters, Elliott, 10, and Lyric, 6, to the Super Mario Bros. movie premiere in Los Angeles. on Saturday, just five days later.
As she made the rounds and posed for photos on the red carpet, McLean could still be seen wearing her wedding ring.
The 45-year-old singer-dancer looked in high spirits, his arms wrapped around his girls standing in front of him as he flashed big beaming smiles.
Always willing to think about his fashion choices, the West Palm Beach, Florida native stepped out in faded blue jeans and a black shirt that he left unbuttoned to show off his classic white T-shirt underneath.
Proud dad: AJ McLean could be seen wearing his wedding ring as he brought his two daughters to The Super Mario Bros. movie premiere in Los Angeles on Saturday, five days after going public with his split from his wife.
To complete his look, McLean also donned black sneakers, sunglasses with tan lenses, and a black baseball cap over his short hair that matched his well-groomed beard and mustache combo.
Elliott showed off her funky style in a green and white patterned sweater over a red and white striped shirt, faded blue jeans, and blue and black sneakers.
She also pulled her long tresses into a ponytail and dyed the front couple of inches pink, along with a center parting.
Her younger sister looked adorable in blue jeans and a purple and black plaid shirt that she left unbuttoned to reveal her pink T-shirt underneath.
She wore her long, straight blonde locks past her shoulders with a parting down the middle.
‘Super Mario Bros. premiere with my babies,’ the proud dad shared on Instagram. ‘This is Lyrics’ first red carpet and unsurprisingly he pulled it off. Obviously, Elliott killed him too. Almost movie time. Come on!! #SuperMarioMovie.’
Directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic from a script by Matthew Fogel, the computer-animated adventure film is based on Nintendo’s Mario video game franchise.
The film “invites audiences into a vibrant and exciting new universe like never before created in a lush, action-packed motion picture comedy event.” it reads on the film’s website. With the help of Princess Peach, Mario prepares to take on the all-powerful Bowser to stop his plans to take over the world.
Cool cats: McLean, 45, and his girls Elliott, 10, and Lyric, six, showed off their original fashion sense on the red carpet.
Eager: The trio was filled with excitement as the film’s screening fast approached.
Red carpet spotlight: The Backstreet Boys star revealed this was his youngest daughter’s first red carpet experience in an Instagram post
The ensemble’s voice cast includes Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Rogen, Fred Armisen, Sebastian Maniscalco, Charles Martinet, and Kevin Michael Richardson.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie is scheduled to open in the US on April 5, 2023, and in Japan on April 28, 2023.
It will also be available to stream on Peacock 45 days later and on Netflix in late 2023.
The McLeans, who made the news of their separation public through TMZ, he made sure to clarify that they have no intention of divorcing and that the separation was decided to give each of them space to work on themselves.
Marriage is hard, but it’s worth it. We have mutually decided to temporarily separate to work on ourselves and our marriage in hopes of building a stronger future,” he told the outlet.
“The plan is to get back together and continue to nurture our love for each other and our family. We ask for respect and privacy at this time.”
“The separation is difficult enough without the comment, please be kind and remember that there are children involved,” the statement concluded.
AJ and Rochelle, a makeup artist and hairstylist, met in October 2001 and finally got married on December 17, 2011 at the Beverly Hills Hotel after six years of dating.
Marriage breakup: McLean and his wife Rochelle DeAnna McLean revealed that they are temporarily separating to work on themselves, hoping to reunite in the future
Family Matters: The couple tied the knot in 2011 after dating for six years.
In October 2020, after returning from a trip to Las Vegas, the singer opened up about his path to sobriety after 20 years of drug and alcohol addiction.
I was never sober. Not for a second. And the turning point for me was when I came home, my wife could smell it on my breath, and the younger of my two daughters wouldn’t sit with me,’ she said. Good morning america.
After that time, Mclean has maintained his sobriety and works with a program and a sponsor.
There is so much to live for today: my beautiful children, my amazing wife, my career, my siblings. I have never felt more grounded than today,” he added.
During the same interview, the boy band star revealed some of the details behind his drug addiction and when it all started.
“The first time I tried drugs was literally an hour before my call time for The Call video shoot,” he recalled. ‘I was out of control’ during the filming of the video.’
His drug addiction remained a secret for a while until his Backstreet Boys bandmates Nick Carter, Brian Littrell, Kevin Richardson and Howie Dorough began to see the signs.
‘When the boys found out, I missed the rehearsal. They basically broke into my house and poured ice water on me while I was passed out in my bed,” she said, adding: “Everyone started to take notice. It wasn’t me anymore, you know, I was just living a lie.
Boy band star: AJ and Rochelle broke the news of their split on TMZ, clarifying that they are not getting a divorce, but are temporarily separating.
Bittersweet: Rochelle marked their 11th anniversary in December 2022 with a snapshot of them, adding lyrics to a Guns N’ Roses song called November Rain
The Dancing With The Stars alum first went to rehab in July 2001, and would end up going twice more, most recently in 2011.
By September 2022, McLean revealed that he was in the best shape of his life and had been sober for a year during an interview with Today.
The star revealed that she has lost 32 pounds since beginning her lifestyle change in February 2022, in part by giving up alcohol and fast food and hiring a personal trainer.
McLean now considers his clean and sober birthday to be September 27, 2022.