AJ McLean Discloses Regular Communication with Estranged Spouse Rochelle McLean Despite Their Separation

 AJ McLean and his estranged wife, Rochelle McLean, are navigating the twists and turns of their relationship with resilience and commitment, despite the challenges that led to their separation earlier this year.

In a candid revelation on Cheryl Burke's "Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans" podcast episode on Tuesday, November 7, AJ, 45, opened up about the ongoing efforts to mend their connection. He disclosed, "We still live separately, but we are in couples therapy. We are in individual therapy. We talk every day. We are spending more time together. We just have to rebuild something that was never there from the beginning."

The Backstreet Boys member reflected on the initial hurdles both he and Rochelle, 42, faced at the onset of their relationship, which began with their 2011 wedding. AJ, while respecting the privacy of Rochelle's struggles, highlighted his own battle with substance abuse as a significant factor. Notably, he proudly shared his recent milestone of two years of sobriety.

"I came with baggage, she came with baggage. She had trauma, I had trauma. I wasn’t sober or even ready to get sober, she was dealing with her own s–t," AJ acknowledged. "It was just a constant push-pull. She would sweep her feelings under the rug, I would do the same thing or I’d dive into a bottle. Now, it’s taken this time apart for us to really do some serious growing and understanding and listening."

While AJ and Rochelle embark on this journey of growth and understanding, AJ emphasized the positive changes in his communication with their daughters, Elliot, 10, and Lyric, 6. The catalyst for this transformation is the acronym "luver," symbolizing the pillars of healthy communication: listen, understand, vulnerable, empathy, and reiterate.

"If you and I are having a conversation and you’re telling me your feelings, I’m validating your feelings, I’m hearing your feelings and I have empathy because normally I would twist it and make it about me. Not anymore," AJ shared. "Luver is a great way to communicate not only with your partner, but just people in general. Have empathy, listen to them, [and] validate their feelings because they are their feelings."

In March 2023, AJ and Rochelle made a public announcement about their decision to temporarily separate as a strategic move to work on themselves and their marriage. In a joint statement to Us Weekly, they expressed the challenges of marriage and their commitment to reunite with strengthened bonds. They appealed for respect, privacy, and understanding, especially considering the involvement of their children.

"Marriage is hard but worth it. We have mutually decided to separate temporarily to work on ourselves, and on our marriage with the hope of building a stronger future," the couple stated. "The plan is to come back together and continue to nurture our love for one another, and our family. We ask for respect and privacy at this time. Separation is hard enough without the commentary, please be kind and remember there are children involved."

AJ and Rochelle's journey is a testament to the resilience required in navigating the complexities of relationships. As they actively engage in therapy, prioritize communication, and focus on personal growth, their story serves as an inspiration for those facing challenges in their own relationships. The commitment to rebuilding, understanding, and nurturing love underscores the transformative power of dedicated efforts in the face of adversity.