It's reportedly over for Jennifer Lopez and boyfriend Casper Smart, whose breakup is confirmed by People and Us Weekly. The pair had been together for two and a half years following J. Lo's split from Marc Anthony, and the reason behind her latest breakup was the distance. With Smart trying to launch his choreography career (he used to be Lopez's backup dancer), he was frequently away from home, as was Lopez, as she promoted her new album. But don't worry, Lopez will be carrying on the recent Hollywood trend of staying friends with her ex.
Lopez's supposed friend/anonymous Us Weekly source says the couple's breakup "has actually been an amicable process that started a few months ago. It wasn't an easy decision, but they decided to stay friends."
Of course they did. Hardly a day goes by that some celebrity couple breaks up and doesn't remain friends. Hilary Duff and ex Mike Comrie are so buddy-buddy that rumors constantly fly that they're getting back together. Actress Evan Rachel Wood is another prime example of a new mom ditching the marriage but staying friends with her ex Jamie Bell. Even Orlando Bloom could be spotted hanging out with Miranda Kerr after their breakup was confirmed.
Are today's stars really just way more chill about things? Or is it something bigger, like them embracing their exes because they know in the industry, they'll probably have to see them again? Perhaps they're simply trying to avoid the tabloid covers if they go through a messy split. Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom's sordid details covered magazines for months. That has to add insult to injury for someone already going through the mess, to then see it on the cover of every tabloid.
But in this case, it does seem plausible for Lopez to remain just friends with Smart. After all, even her ex-husband Marc Anthony is friends with him. In February he was asked about his ex-wife's new beau and replied:
We're actually really, really good friends – from the very beginning...You know, anybody that means anything to her means something to me...Casper's a great guy. He's been great to my children and I have nothing but respect for him. Absolutely nothing but respect.
So if Marc Anthony can be friends with his ex-wife's boyfriend, it's not a big stretch to believe J.Lo and Smart can stay buddies even after they split.
For now though, it seems both Lopez and Smart are going to leave the friendship long distance as he furthers his career and she promotes her album. The same source goes on to say J.Lo is "doing fine" and the former-couple "are both in a good place now."
Good for them, and cheers to their strange, but believable, friendship to come.
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