Why Did Mariah Carey & Bryan Tanaka Break Up? He Revealed The Real Reason
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End of an era. If you’ve been catching up with their relationship, you might be wondering why Mariah Carey and Bryan Tanaka broke up.
Bryan Tanaka was a backup dancer for the “All I Want For Christmas” singer starting in 2006. “It was about 2005-2006 when I first met Mariah Carey,” he explained during the Mariah’s World premiere. “I was a young buck, I was this green rookie when I first worked with her.”
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The two bonded professionally and bloomed into a relationship after a decade of working together. “Something connected with us back in the day and there was just a mutual admiration,” Tanaka told E! News about his early work with the singer. “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 some way, some how.”
Carey and Tanaka became a couple after she split from her ex-fiancé James Packer in 2016. “I’m just going to be like, ‘I really don’t talk about my personal life.’ Because that’s what I used to do and it really worked for a minute, back, a while ago,” she said at the time to The Associated Press. “I just don’t feel comfortable talking about my personal life. … Me and my boyfriend don’t want to do that.”
However, this isn’t the first time that the ex-couple broke up. In 2017, the two briefly split after jealousy and financial matters according to TMZ. The two reunited shortly after and he’s been pictured with her and her twins that she has with Nick Cannon, Monroe and Moroccan. He’s also spent most Christmas holidays with the family.
Suspicion of a recent breakup occurred when fans noticed Tanaka was not on tour with Carey on her “All I Want For Christmas Tour.” He was also not spotted on Carey’s annual Aspen trip in 2023. Tanaka confirmed the breakup in an Instagram post.
Why did Mariah Carey & Brian Tanaka break up?
Why did Mariah Carey & Brian Tanaka break up? According to Tanaka himself, the split was amicable and the two grew apart.
“With mixed emotions, I share this personal update regarding my amicable separation from Mariah Carey after seven extraordinary years together,” he wrote in an Instagram post.
“Our decision to embark on different paths is mutual, and as we navigate these separate journeys, we do so with profound respect and an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the invaluable time we’ve shared. The memories we’ve created and the artistic collaborations etched into my heart forever.”
Tanaka continued, “Mariah’s dedication to her family and her commitment to her craft have inspired us during our shared journey. 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.”
“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.”
A source to People also confirmed the breakup saying, “The split happened very recently. Mariah ended it — everyone hoped that she would. She has better things to focus on. Mariah is happy. She is focusing on her kids and new music.”
The insider added, “Bryan was a good distraction after she split from James. This is a good time for her to be single and focus on herself.”
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