Celebrity Celebrity Relationships Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez's Relationship Timeline The pair — who started dating in February 2017 and were engaged in March 2019 — announced in March 2021 that they are 'working through some things' amid reports of a split, but made their separation official in April By Andrea Wurzburger Andrea Wurzburger Andrea Wurzburger is a former features writer at PEOPLE. She left PEOPLE in 2022. People Editorial Guidelines Updated on April 15, 2021 08:45AM EDT 01 of 26 1999: Jennifer Lopez gives Alex Rodriguez an autograph The couple first met in 1999, when Rodriguez was still playing baseball. In October 2018, the former Yankee posted a photo of an autograph from Lopez, captioning it, "#TBT to almost 20 years ago when a big time global pop superstar signed a pic for a young ball player #lifecanbeafunnythingsometimes #pictureperfect #keepsake #jlo." 02 of 26 May 21, 2005: Jennifer Lopez shakes hands with Alex Rodriguez at Yankee Stadium Mike Ehrmann/WireImage In May 2005, Bronx native Lopez attended a New York Yankees game against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium with then-husband Marc Anthony. She and Rodriguez were pictured shaking hands. In 2019, Lopez told Sports Illustrated, "We shook hands, and it was this weird electricity for, like, three seconds. Three to five seconds of looking at somebody right in their eyes, and getting stuck." 03 of 26 February 2017: Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez begin dating Splash PEOPLE confirmed in March 2017 that the pair were dating. The couple later revealed that they had begun dating the previous month. "She seems excited," a source close to Lopez told PEOPLE at the time. "He has been around her family and she really likes that he is a dad. She is aware, though, that he is a ladies' man too and is being cautious. For now, it's just fun. She is single and enjoys dating." 04 of 26 April 8, 2017: Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez become Instagram official One month after PEOPLE confirmed that Lopez and Rodriguez were dating, Lopez made it Instagram official with a now-deleted photo of what looked to be the pair enjoying a Yankees game together. 05 of 26 April 24, 2017: Jennifer Lopez talks about her first date with Alex Rodriguez Splash In April 2017, Lopez went on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, where she told the talk show host how she met Rodriguez. Lopez explained to Ellen that she "was having lunch somewhere and I saw him as he passed by. Afterwards, I went outside, and for some reason I felt like tapping him on the shoulder." She said that Rodriguez made the first move and texted the superstar, and they began dating. After their chance encounter, Rodriguez decided to make the next move: "He texted me, said, 'Let's go out to dinner,' and I said, 'Okay.' We had a nice dinner," Lopez said. Rodriguez confirmed the story to DeGeneres in April 2018. 06 of 26 May 1, 2017: Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez make their red carpet debut at the Met Gala Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty The pair made their red carpet debut at the 2017 Met Gala. Lopez shared a selfie of the couple on Instagram on the way to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's annual gala. "Me and my macho bello… #metball2017 #Valentino," she wrote in a now-deleted post. 07 of 26 June 28, 2017: Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez have fun with their children J Lo/Instagram Lopez shared the first photo of their families on Instagram — including her twins Max and Emme and Rodriguez's daughters Natasha and Ella — hanging out together, enjoying some summer sunshine. 08 of 26 June 2017: Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez vacation in Paris A-Rod and J-Lo. Jennifer Lopez/Instagram The pair also took their first public vacation together to Paris, with Lopez dubbing it their "#baecation" on Instagram. "They were laughing and walking hand-in-hand," a source told PEOPLE. The couple also traveled to the south of France. "She knows the south of France very well," the source added. "She showed [Rodriguez] Monaco, Antibes/Cannes and St. Tropez. She seemed to be showing him places she loves." 09 of 26 October 2017: Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez are moving in together Rachel Murray/Getty Images PEOPLE reported that the pair were taking the next step in their relationship and moving in together. "They will invest together in a new home when they find the perfect one," said a source. "They are starting to make more financial decisions together. It's nice for Jennifer to be with a man who has his own money and spends it wisely." 10 of 26 November 23, 2017: Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez spend Thanksgiving together Alex Rodriguez/Instagram The pair spent Thanksgiving together with their families in the country. Rodriguez posted photos of their holiday on Instagram. "Hope everyone had a great #Thanksgiving #DownOnTheFarm 🚴♂️," he wrote in the caption. 11 of 26 February 4, 2018: Jennifer Lopez says she and Alex Rodriguez "are so happy about our lives right now" Patrick McMullan/Getty Images On Feb. 4, 2018, Lopez spoke to Entertainment Tonight about her relationship with Rodriguez one year in. "We both are so happy about our lives right now and where we're at professionally, as well as personally, she said. "Just things seem to be flowing in a really beautiful way. We both have a lot of support for each other and a lot of love for each other." 12 of 26 May 7, 2018: Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez attend the 2018 Met Gala together HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP via Getty The pair attended their second Met Gala together in May 2018. Lopez and Rodriguez also paused to share some PDA on the red carpet. 13 of 26 July 2018: Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez wish each other happy birthday Alex Rodriguez/Instagram The pair gushed over each other in a pair of sweet birthday posts — Lopez celebrates hers on the 24th and Rodriguez on the 27th. Rodriguez wrote of Lopez, "When we were kids, birthdays were exciting because it was all about the gifts we would be getting. A new bat, dance shoes, maybe a new CD (yes I'm old!). I see firsthand how that's changed for Jennifer, and how she's found joy in sharing with others. For someone who has been about giving everything she has 365 days a year—to our children, our families, the world—I hope today, we can give you all the happiness you deserve. I love you mucho Macha 13. ❤️." Lopez shared in a now-deleted post, "Baby, spending time with you over the past year and a half...getting to know the real you more and more...I am surprised everyday by the generous, loving person you are to me and everyone around you... you bring energy and laughter everywhere you go. But I am most impressed by the man you strive to be...growing everyday... reaching for new heights, new understanding, new dreams and new goals. YOU ARE A SUPERSTAR, a force of nature, a visionary and a gentleman. I love you and I wish for you, today and everyday, all the goodness and abundance God and the universe has to offer... HAPPY BIRTHDAY Macho Bello. Te Adoro ♥️🎂💕💋." 14 of 26 December 2018: Jennifer Lopez talks about Alex Rodriguez's "loving, generous spirit" Kevin Mazur/Getty Lopez told Jimmy Fallon of her relationship in December 2018, "He's come into my life and really contributed in such a way. He's so supportive, he's so loving," she says in the interview, getting emotional. "He's one of these people, he's like, 'Shine, be the best.' Some people try to dull you down, try to squish you down, and he's so not like that. And it's just so refreshing. It's just such a beautiful thing. He's just a very loving, generous spirit." 15 of 26 February 2019: Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez celebrate two years together Alex Rodriguez/Instagram The pair celebrated their two-year anniversary with a pair of sweet Instagram tributes to one another. "You make my world a more beautiful safe and stable place... in the midst of our ever-changing, ever-moving life... you make me feel like a teenager starting out all over again... Every time I think I have you pegged, you surprise me in the most wonderful ways reminding me how blessed I am to have found you now in this moment at this time... our time... Te Amo Macho," Lopez said in her post on Instagram. For his part, Rodriguez wrote, "I can't believe it's been two years. Only 730 days, which have flown by, but it feels like we have been together forever. We are meant to be, and how much you mean to me cannot be put into words." 16 of 26 March 9, 2019: Jennifer Lopez announces she is engaged to Alex Rodriguez Alex Rodriguez & Jennifer Lopez. Arod Corp After two years of dating, the pair got engaged in the Bahamas in March 2019. "She said yes," Rodriguez captioned a photo of Lopez wearing her engagement ring as he held her hand. Lopez shared the romantic image on her Instagram, too, including eight black heart emojis in her caption. 17 of 26 May 6, 2019: Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez attend the 2019 Met Gala together Karwai Tang/WireImage The pair stepped out again at the Met Gala in 2019, with Lopez wearing a Versace dress and her fiancé wearing a pink tuxedo. 18 of 26 September 27, 2019: Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez host an engagement party The pair celebrated their engagement with a "beautifully elegant" engagement party in L.A. Two days after their celebration, Lopez and Rodriguez shared photos on Instagram of their respective daughters, Emme Maribel and Ella Alexander, from the night. "💕💕💕 9/27/19 💕💕💕," Lopez captioned the family photo. 19 of 26 January 2020: Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez celebrate awards season Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez. Michael Kovac/Getty With Lopez nominated for a Golden Globe, Critics' Choice and SAG Award for her role in Hustlers, the pair got red carpet ready for awards season. The pair's red carpet style was, frankly, unmatched. Following her Golden Globes loss, Rodriguez wrote on Instagram, "Jen, it doesn't take a trophy, medal, or plaque to identify a true champion. To millions of young women who have watched you and have been inspired and empowered to do amazing things in their lives, you are a champion." 20 of 26 February 2020: Alex Rodriguez praises Jennifer Lopez's Super Bowl performance Rodriguez showed support for Lopez when she performed alongside Shakira at the Super Bowl. "AMAZING!! She ABSOLUTELY CRUSHED IT! Wow, that was so fun! I'm so proud of you, Jen! ❤️," he captioned a video of him dancing in the crowd on Instagram. 21 of 26 April 2020: Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez postpone their wedding Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez with their kids. Alex Rodriguez/Instagram The pair postponed their wedding, scheduled for June in Italy, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and social distanced in Miami with their families. She later revealed to Elle magazine that the couple postponed the wedding a second time. "We had planned what we really, really wanted to do, [but] I don't know if we'll be able to re-create that," Lopez said. "We canceled it, and since then we haven't really talked about it. There's no rush. We want to do it right when we can do it." "We just have to wait to see where the world lands," Lopez added. 22 of 26 January 2021: Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez attend the Presidential Inauguration Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez. Alex Rodriguez/Instagram On Jan. 21, 2021, Lopez performed at Joe Biden and Kamala Harris' Inauguration ceremony, with Rodriguez there for support. The former pro-baseball player wrote on Instagram of the experience, "I can't stop thinking about Wednesday and Jen's performance at #Inauguration2021. 🇺🇸." Rodriguez, who shared a photo of the pair on the plane following Lopez's performance, continued, "It was such an iconic moment — one I'll never forget. I can't express how proud I am of her and how privileged I felt just to be in attendance. It truly was awe-inspiring and so patriotic." He gushed over Lopez, adding, "On the flight home, she showed me her lyrics sheet, and the significance of her performance really began to sink in. Can you believe she was the first person to sing in Spanish at an inaugural event? Another historic and groundbreaking achievement for one of the most talented and driven people the world has ever seen. #Proud #Macha." 23 of 26 February 2021: Alex Rodriguez says he is "missing" Jennifer Lopez Rodriguez posted a photo alongside Lopez, captioning the cuddly pic, "Missing this girl." 24 of 26 March 2021: Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez end their engagement Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images In March 2021, PEOPLE confirmed that the couple had ended their two-year engagement. "This has been a long time coming," a source told PEOPLE. "They are tied in their business worlds so it's not a cut and dry break up. It's taken a while for them to even think about untangling it all." Weeks earlier, on Feb. 28, Rodriguez had posted a photo on Instagram of the pair in the Dominican Republic, where Lopez is filming a movie. The New York Post's Page Six was the first to report the news. 25 of 26 March 2021: Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez say they are "working through some things" Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez. Alex Rodriguez/YouTube A change of heart? One day later, on March 13, the pair released a statement to PEOPLE saying "we are working through some things." "They never officially broke up and talked about it but are still together. They hit a rough patch. But were not broken up," a source close to the pair told PEOPLE. Shortly afterward, Rodriguez flew to the Dominican Republic to join Lopez, where she was filming Shotgun Wedding. A source told PEOPLE in late March that the couple was "doing everything they can to prioritize their relationship." 26 of 26 April 2021: Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez officially split Alex Rodriguez Instagram On April 15, 2021, the two issued a joint statement shared exclusively with Today, saying their split was official. "We have realized we are better as friends and look forward to remaining so," they shared. "We will continue to work together and support each other on our shared businesses and projects. We wish the best for each other and one another's children. Out of respect for them, the only other comment we have is to say is thank you to everyone who has sent kind words and support," the statement read. Close