Mariah Carey and boyfriend Bryan Tanaka’s seven-year relationship has survived world travel, many holidays and vacations together, and even an early breakup. However, fans are worried the longtime couple may have finally split after noticing the singer and choreographer have been spending a lot of time apart.
Did Mariah Carey and Bryan Tanaka Split?
Rumors that the Queen of Christmas and her dancer boyfriend had split began swirling after fans pointed out that Bryan, who is usually seen supporting his girlfriend at her shows, did not attend any of her 13 Merry Christmas One and All! tour dates during its run from mid-November through December 17, 2023.
The couple further fueled breakup rumors after Mariah was photographed shopping in Aspen on December 19 without Bryan, as the duo usually embarks on an annual trip to Aspen around the holidays together.
A source told Page Six on December 20, 2023, that the couple reportedly ended their relationship after seven years together. “He wants to have a family. That’s not where she is at,” the insider told the outlet.
Bryan broke his silence and confirmed the split on December 26, writing on Instagram, “With mixed emotions, I share this personal update regarding my amicable separation from Mariah Carey after seven extraordinary years together.”
He continued, “Our decision to embark on different paths is mutual, and as we navigate these separate journeys, we do so with profound requests and an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the invaluable time we’ve shared. The memories we’ve created and the artistic collaborations are etched in my heart forever.”
Bryan added that “Mariah’s dedication to her family and her commitment to her craft” served as an inspiration during their romance.
“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,” he wrote. “During this sensitive time, I kindly ask for your understanding, privacy and respect. The outpouring of love and support from fans has been a beacon of strength, and I am extremely grateful for the encouragement that continues to uplift me. I eagerly anticipate continuing my journey, knowing my passion for inspiration, dance, and the creative arts will resonate in the unfolding chapters.”
When Were Mariah Carey and Bryan Tanaka Last Seen Together?
In celebration of the “All I Want for Christmas Is You” singer’s 54th birthday in March 2023, Bryan posted a photo of him and Mariah captioned, “This is one of my favorite pictures. Ever. Happy Anniversary my Beautiful Queen.” However, it is unclear whether the photo was actually taken on that day.
Mariah, who often makes several Instagram posts per day, hasn’t made one featuring Bryan since last holiday season, when she shared a photo of them together on December 26, 2022, captioned, “Happy Boxing Day! (Every day is a celebration!)”
In addition to their absence of recent pictures together, fans have noticed the lack of social media love for each other includes their photo liking habits.
One fan commented on Bryan’s May 4, 2023, Instagram photo, “Mimi doesn’t acknowledge any of his posts. Why???” While one follower replied to the speculative question with concern of their own — “she used to,” paired with a crying emoji — another shut down the relevance of their social media behavior altogether, writing, in part, “they don’t have to validate each other thru this app.”
When Did Mariah Carey and Bryan Tanaka Start Dating?
The power couple began their professional relationship in 2006, when Bryan was working as a backup dancer for Mariah’s Adventures of Mimi tour, a full decade before they began dating in 2016.
“Something connected with us back in the day and there was just a mutual admiration,” Bryan revealed during a 2016 interview with E! News shortly after the couple made their relationship official. “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 somehow, somehow.”
Despite a major hiccup early in their relationship (the couple broke up in April 2017 after only a few months together), they got back together the very next month and seemed stronger than ever.
As their personal relationship grew closer, so did their professional one, as Bryan currently serves as Mariah’s creative director.
