Maya Jama, 29, and rapper Stormzy, 30, – real name Michael Ebenazer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr – have informed their followers that despite getting their relationship back on track for a second time, they have decided to part ways.
Jama and Stormzy first met back in 2014 – with the presenter being an inspiration for many of the rapper’s hits – and dated until 2019 before they called time on their five-year relationship.
Back in October 2023, the couple sparked a frenzy when they confirmed they were back together and shared pictures of their romantic holiday together in Greece.
However, whilst many were rooting for them and thought they were end-game, the couple released a shared statement today and revealed that they found they were better off as friends.
Posting the same statement on both of their separate Instagram stories, it read: “Hey guys, we’ve been laughing whilst drafting this because we never, ever, in a million years thought we’d be the couple announcing a breakup.
“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.
Maya Jama and Stormzy have called time on their romance for the second time
“We fell madly in love in 2014, broke up in 2019, and then spent five years manoeuvring life apart. 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.
“We were 21 and 20 when we first met – both at the beginning of our careers – and spent five years growing separately, so this final attempt required a whole lot of figuring out, relearning, and unlearning. We tried, and it didn’t work, and that’s okay.
“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 (so if you see us having a lil catch-up at The Brits of something, don’t cause a fuss, we are dawgs!).
“Announcing this feels so dramatic, but we’re doing it so that it kind of takes away the drama and avoids speculation and rumours. We’re kindly asking for the grace to let us both keep it moving and not be bothered about it (we highly doubt this’ll work, but we’re still kindly asking anyway).
Stormzy and Maya Jama met in 2014 and were together for five years
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“Love you guys, and thank you for all the love you’ve showered us with, it’s been beautiful. Mike & MJ x.” (sic)
When the pair first split, Jama appeared on Shopping With Keith Lemon in 2020 and said of the first breakup: “We just had a normal relationship. We met when we were like 20 before anyone cared about us.
“So then it was just a normal relationship. Basically, I always said it was like a normal relationship but people wanted to look at it more and talk about it more.”
Stormzy referenced the breakdown of their relationship in his single Lessons, with the lyrics reading: “You taught me love, oh, what a gift. I know that it’s hard, too hard to forgive. And to be honest, if I were you. I’d be the same way. To be honest, if I were you. Then I’d be unforgiving too.
Stormzy and Maya Jama split for four years to “re-navigate” and “learn” within themselves
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“I done the dirt and then I figured that you’ll dig it out, but that’s a coward move, I guess you got me figured out, I know you’ll never listen now.”
The lyrics led many to believe that the 30-year-old alluded to the fact he cheated on Jama, but he has continued to deny the fact ever since.
During a YouTube interview with Charlamagne Tha God, he said: “I would love to be the man who she needs, I would love to do all the things that make this work. I want to marry her, I want to have her children.
“That’s probably the biggest loss a man can have, isn’t it? Away from someone passing away, that’s the biggest loss you can have. My breakup was probably the biggest catalyst for my growth as a man.
“It was like, ‘OK, you made a mistake and you lose someone you loved, someone you cared for, someone who is special to you’.”
