Why Did Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth Split?

By now you've probably heard Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth have split after less than one year of marriage. A rep for the singer confirmed the breakup in a statement on Saturday, August 10.

“Liam and Miley have agreed to separate at this time,” her representative told People. “Ever-evolving, changing as partners and individuals, they have decided this is what’s best while they both focus on themselves and careers. They still remain dedicated parents to all of their animals they share while lovingly taking this time apart. Please respect their process and privacy.”

The statement continued, “They still remain dedicated parents to all of their animals they share while lovingly taking this time apart. Please respect their process and privacy.”

Though it's unclear what led to the breakup—and it's understandably something the two might wish to keep private—sources told E! News that Hemsworth and Cyrus "were drifting apart" and were "trying to make it work for months now."

"[They] haven't felt they were connecting on the level they were feeling when they got married last year," the insider told the outlet. "It's been a rough year."

Apparently, the pair "have been spending a lot of time apart" ever since Cyrus started recording her album and touring Europe this summer.

The source also explained the actor is "focused on a more simplified lifestyle while Miley has been preparing for a new wave of her music career."

"She has been ready to put out music and be back in the game touring and performing. They really grew apart," the insider continued. "Miley and Liam have still been communicating, and it wasn't a messy split, but they have decided they are at different points in their lives currently."

Meanwhile, other sources told People the split "isn’t shocking to people who are actually with them every day."

“After they reunited, everyone thought they were this ‘perfect’ couple, but they still had a lot of issues. They’re not on the same page when it comes to a lot of fundamental things that make a relationship work,” the insider added. “It’s not surprising at all.”

News of their separation comes just days after fans first suspected something might be wrong when Cyrus posted a photo without her wedding ring.

It also comes a few weeks after the couple celebrated their 10-year anniversary. Cyrus and Hemsworth tied the knot in December but started dating in 2009 after meeting and falling in love on the set of The Last Song in 2009.

At the time of the wedding, the two seemed happy, and the pop star even used her anniversary tribute to debunk any speculation that her relationship was on the rocks.

In fact, Cyrus spoke about their marriage just two months before that, in an interview with Elle.

"My relationship is unique. And I don’t know that I would ever publicly allow people in there because it’s so complex, and modern, and new that I don’t think we’re in a place where people would get it," she told the magazine.

Originally Appeared on Glamour