Robin Thicke and Paula Patton Split: Inside Their Roller Coaster Past Year Together

Couple announced they were splitting today

By Lily Harrison Feb 25, 2014 1:00 AMTags
Robin Thicke, Paula Patton Turgeon-Harvey/Splash News

After more than 20 years as a couple, Paula Patton and Robin Thicke have decided to go their separate ways.

The two announced the news today and released the following statement, "We will always love each other and be best friends; however, we have mutually decided to separate at this time."

And while the famous duo has been in the public eye for several years now, few Hollywood couples have been together for as long as they have.

Thicke and Patton met in 1993 when they were just teenagers in high school, when Thicke was only 14 years old, and they have been inseparable ever since.

But drama has followed Mr. and Mrs. Thicke for the past year, ever since the sultry crooner released the controversial music video for his hit song "Blurred Lines."

Dave Allocca/Startraksphoto.com

But while most thought that the stunning actress would be uncomfortable with a bevy of nude models dancing with her hubby, she was adamant that it did the opposite.

"I watched that video and I was a little bit jealous and then I wanted to jump his bones. I was like, ‘I want to take you down right now.' That's how I know it's a hit."

And then came the MTV Video Music Awards performance that shook America to its core—okay, maybe that was a bit dramatic, but it was shocking!

Viewers were startled after a barely-dressed Miley Cyrus twerked what her mama gave her all over the singer, leaving many wondering if Patton had given her stamp of approval over the live rendition.

"It doesn't affect me any more at all," Patton said during a sit-down on E! News today with Giuliana Rancic and Terrence Jenkins.

Rodrigo Varela/WireImage

"It's just so funny because when I saw him perform I was like, 'You guys killed it!' We hugged each other, we went out, celebrated. The next day, my cell phone [has] all these texts: 'Praying for you.' 'If you need to talk, I'm here.'"

She added, "Why are people making such a big deal about it? Quite frankly, all my friends dance like that with him. He's like the guy that you can dance with, 'cause he's safe!"

Days after the awards show, a photo went viral showing Thicke's hand on a blond woman's behind at VMAs after party.

A source told E! News at the time that the photo was a "non-issue" between the couple.

In October 2013, Thicke sat down with Oprah Winfrey during an episode of her series Next Chapter and explained how he and Patton keep their relationship alive.

John Shearer/WireImage

"You take it one day at a time…we're no different than any other couple out there, we have our fights and our problems, but we are madly in love and can't quit each other."

He gushed, "I would be lost without her."

Then in January, the 36-year-old singer was spotted getting up close and personal with an unidentified woman at Club 79 in Paris.

The two appeared to be chatting and dancing together shortly after his nightclub appearance—his wife, however, was not in attendance.

Patton and Thicke were last photographed together at this year's Grammy Awards on Jan. 26, where the two exchanged their usual PDA on the red carpet.