Read Stormzy and Maya Jama’s Statement

British rapper Stormzy and popular television presenter Maya Jama have announced the end of their relationship for the second time. The couple, who had rekindled their romance in 2023 after a previous split, shared the news with their fans through a joint statement on social media. This development marks the conclusion of one of the UK’s most high-profile celebrity relationships.

The duo’s relationship has been a rollercoaster of emotions, filled with public declarations of love, heartbreak, and attempts at reconciliation. Their story began in 2014 when they first fell for each other, both at the beginning stages of their respective careers. Over the years, their relationship became a symbol of young love and success in the British entertainment scene, with both Stormzy and Jama achieving success in their respective fields.

In their recent Instagram post, the couple addressed their followers. “We’ve been laughing whilst drafting this because we never, ever, in a million years thought we’d be the couple announcing a breakup,” they wrote.

The couple’s decision to make their split public stems from a desire for transparency and a need for personal space. “But for the sake of clarity and, more importantly, to allow us the space and grace that’s needed for us both to be able to navigate this next bit of our lives with peace, we thought it might be best to,” they explained.

Stormzy and Jama’s relationship timeline has been marked by significant milestones and challenges. After their initial meeting in 2014, when Stormzy was 21, and Jama was 20, they spent five years growing together. This period coincided with their rising fame—Stormzy became one of the UK’s most prominent rappers, and Jama established herself as a sought-after television and radio personality, most recently hosting the popular reality show Love Island, per BBC.

However, their first breakup in 2019 came as a shock to many of their supporters. The split was followed by a period of individual growth and self-reflection for both parties. Stormzy, in particular, was vocal about his regrets regarding the end of their relationship. In his 2019 album Heavy Is The Head, the rapper included a track titled “Lessons,” which contained explicit references to his relationship with Jama.

The lyrics of “Lessons” provided a raw and honest look into Stormzy’s feelings post-breakup. “Guess this is the karma for what I done to Maya,” he rapped, acknowledging his mistakes in the relationship. The song revealed intimate details, including plans the couple had made for the future: “Greatest love I ever knew, I poured it down the drain,” and “You gave me the world and then I gave you disrespect / Hand on my heart, this is my biggest of regrets.”

In a BBC documentary with Louis Theroux, Stormzy elaborated on his feelings about the breakup. “It was, like, ‘OK, you made a mistake and you lose someone you loved, someone you cared for, someone who is special to you,'” he shared, via Metro. “That’s probably the biggest loss a man can have, isn’t it? There were other things in terms of mistakes I’d made. I didn’t do what a man should do to fully appreciate, love and care for his woman.”

Maya Jama, for her part, maintained a more private stance on their relationship and subsequent split. In a Vogue interview, she reflected on their time together: “None of us really knew the level of importance it held to a certain group of people, us being together. We were both super ambitious. We were both from similar upbringings and we were both just little grafters that have made something good of ourselves. It was lovely when it was lovely, and then you move.”

The couple’s reunion in August 2023 came as a pleasant surprise to their fans. Rumors of their reconciliation began circulating when they were spotted together at the All Points East festival in London, sharing a private moment backstage. These speculations gained momentum when both Stormzy and Jama posted social media content from what appeared to be the same luxurious vacation spot in Greece. Paparazzi photos surfaced showing the couple hand-in-hand, indulging in a shopping spree, confirming their rekindled romance.

The reunion was particularly meaningful given Stormzy’s public expressions of regret over their initial breakup. His latest album, This Is What I Mean, released in 2022, was believed to contain several tracks inspired by Jama, including the single “Firebabe.” This musical tribute to their relationship further fueled the dreams of those hoping for the couple’s reunion.

However, despite the initial excitement and optimism surrounding their reconnection, Stormzy and Jama have now decided to part ways once again. In their joint statement, they explained the challenges they faced in trying to rekindle their relationship: “We decided to try for the final time in August 2023, and we’ve spent this past year trying our best to make it work; however, we recently decided to call it quits.”

The couple acknowledged the complexities of reconnecting after years apart. “We were 21 and 20 when we first met – both at the beginning of our careers – and spent five years growing together and then five years growing separately, so this final attempt required a whole lot of figuring out, relearning, and unlearning,” they shared.

Despite the end of their romantic relationship, Stormzy and Jama emphasized their continued friendship and mutual respect. “We still think the absolute world of each other, we still care and respect each other, we are still grateful for the time we’ve had together, and we are still friends and will always be friends,” they stated.

The couple addressed potential future interactions in public settings with a touch of humor. They requested understanding from their fans and the media, asking people “not to cause a fuss” if they see them catching up if they cross paths in the future at events like the Brit Awards. As they conclude their statement, Stormzy and Jama express gratitude for the support they’ve received throughout their relationship: “Love you guys and thank you for all the love you’ve showered us with, it’s been beautiful.”