Inside Marc Anthony’s Split with Shannon De Lima: He ‘Likes to Have a Woman at Home but Also Live Like a Bachelor’
Marc Anthony’s split from wife Shannon De Lima was revealed last Friday, just hours after performing a duet at the Latin Grammy awards with his ex, Jennifer Lopez.
The timing of the affectionate appearance — which included a quick kiss — gave rise to speculation that Anthony and Lopez (who split with longtime partner Beau “Casper” Smart in August) had rekindled their flame.
But sources close to the situation tell PEOPLE that Anthony’s unrelenting career as a global superstar doomed his marriage to 28-year-old de Lima.
“Marc is so busy with his career, touring and recording that he distances himself from his relationships without even knowing it,” says an insider in the Spanish music industry. “Even with his wife in tow, she can feel like he is on another planet.”
As is often the case, balancing the life of a public figure and a private husband can be challenging. “Marc likes to have a woman at home but he also likes to live like a bachelor,” the source continues. “This doesn’t work for very long.”
Anthony, 48, has ramped up his professional relationship with Lopez, 47, in recent months — they’re collaborating on a new Spanish language album — and they appear to be the model of friendly exes.
“Marc has been in love with Jennifer Lopez since the day they met many years ago and that is a simple fact,” a Miami music source tells PEOPLE. “He was devastated when they split, and he will always be a part of her life because of their similar backgrounds, their kids, and their love of music and performing. It would take a very strong spouse not to feel some jealousy.”
Regardless of what happened before their respective breakups, could there be a chance that they’d resume their romance now that they’re both single?
“They are not together,” insists a mutual friend of the pair. “They are friends, they are family, they are co-parents and they are making an album together.”
The Miami music insider is only slightly more optimistic, telling PEOPLE, “They seem better together now than any time in the past few years, but I don’t know if they will ever reunite as a couple. But I would not rule it out.”
Reporting by LINDA MARX and LIZ McNEIL
