Example has announced he has split from his model wife, Erin McNaught, after 11 years.
The star, real name Elliot Gleave, revealed their relationship came to a “natural end” at the beginning of the UK summer.
The Stay Awake singer added that he and McNaught, both 40, plan on co-parenting their sons, Evander, seven, and five-year-old Ennio, explaining that “this is as amicable as it gets”.
In a joint Instagram statement, the couple wrote: “At the start of the UK summer we decided to separate. We have had an amazing 11 years together, but just a few too many adventures.
“Obviously we spent a lot of time behind the scenes trying to figure things out, but we came to the realisation that perhaps our time as a couple had just come to a natural end.
“So we have decided to go our separate ways whilst there is still an abundance of love and respect for one another.
“We have been Co-parenting happily and effectively now for almost half a year and our boys are surrounded with love.”
He continued: “Due to Elliot’s busy summer schedule over 14 weeks in Europe, Erin and the boys flew to London for 4 weeks so Elliot wouldn’t have to go months without seeing Evander and Ennio.
“We had an amazing family holiday, and look forward to more in the future. We have had incredible support from our closest friends and family, who are proud of how are handling this separation.
“We have turned off commenting to protect ourselves, our children and closest friends and family. Please do not feel the need to text or DM us whoever you are.
“We would appreciate the space right now and don’t want to be distracted by conversations over texts, social media or FaceTime when we need to devote so much time our own well-being and most importantly, that of our children.
“If you see us out and about together it’s still the same old Elliot & Erin.
“Though we spend a lot of our time apart we still enjoy time together climbing, jogging, cinema, chasing kids around the park or getting coffee. Expect to see us out and about together with our children often.
“This is as amicable as it gets. Nobody is blaming anyone in all this. We are very happy that this is the right decision and hope that others can respect this too. Everything is as it should be Love, E&E.”
The couple got engaged in 2012 after meeting in 2011 when McNaught interviewed him while still working for MTV. They tied the knot in 2013 and welcomed their first son a year later.
In the past, Example credited McNaught with “saving his life”.
Speaking to The Sun in 2020, he said: “Erin saved me from an early death. I was partying too much back in the day.”
Detailing his lifestyle before meeting his wife, he said: “You’re burning the candle at both ends, doing 120 festivals a year, 100 flights a year and you’re partying four or five nights a week.
“I was lying to my ex and cheating on her. I wasn’t close to my mum or dad or my sister any more, so Erin coming into my life helped me mend all those things.”
