Why did Miguel and Nazanin Mandi separate? Couple head for splitsville after 17 years
Celebrity couple Miguel Pimentel and Nazanin Mandi shocked fans as they dropped the news of their separation after 17 long years of togetherness. The 35-year-old singer and his actress wife of the same age announced their split to PEOPLE exclusively via a rep. "After 17 years together, Miguel and Nazanin Mandi have decided to separate and have been for some time now. The couple both wish each other well," the rep stated.
The Grammy Award–winning singer and the model, actress and artist started dating in the early 2000s and eventually got married in November 2018 at the Hummingbird Nest Ranch in Simi Valley, California. They had stayed engaged for two years, from 2016 to 2018. The news of their sudden split shattered many hearts as the couple had always been hailed as relationship goals. In recent months, we have seen a lot of celebrity couples going separate ways — from Kaley Cuoco and Karl Cook to Johnny Bananas and Morgan Willet.
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In 2021 itself, Nazanin had revealed to PEOPLE how the couple stayed close to each other during the Covid-19 quarantine last year. "We were used to being around each other a lot, but then we were also used to traveling a lot. So keeping the spark alive was definitely something we had to stay on — because when you're in different cities, it's automatic to feel excitement [when you see each other again]," she shared.
"But being home [together] all the time, it's like, 'Okay, we have to find new things to watch, and to do and to read. It was a lot, but overall, we did great. I have no complaints, [and] am grateful for everything," she added.
During an interview in 2015, Miguel had reflected upon the secrets to a happy and long relationship as he shared, "I've come so far as a man and I'm just starting to feel solid where I can be like, 'You know what? I think I can hold this down legitimately.' I think now people throw things around like marriage. I just wasn't raised like that." Speaking about Nazanin, he added, "I just follow my instincts. I think she's learned that and she's had to adjust and had to learn and also embrace. And I love her more for that."
In fact, the story of how they met was nothing short of fairytale romance. She and Miguel met back when they were both 18 years old. She was interviewing him for a behind-the-scenes DVD for his very first music video. She had revealed to Vogue back in 2018, “I asked him a question that wasn’t on my Q&A, which was: ‘All the ladies want to know, do you have a girlfriend?’ And he smiled and said, ‘No, but I’m looking for one.’ We exchanged numbers, and he called me the next day to ask me out on a date . . . and ever since then, it’s been one hell of a ride!” For their wedding, their first dance had been to “Always and Forever” by Heatwave.
The exact reason for their split was not divulged and it is unclear whether there were any extra-marital affairs involved. The couple is yet to address the matter in person and reveal more details from their side.