Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin have decided to separate — or, in their words, "consciously uncouple." The Oscar-winning actress announced the sad news in a statement on her official website for her lifestyle brand Goop on Tuesday, March 25.
"It is with hearts full of sadness that we have decided to separate," the statement read. "We have been working hard for well over a year, some of it together, some of it separated, to see what might have been possible between us, and we have come to the conclusion that while we love each other very much we will remain separate."
"We are, however, and always will be a family, and in many ways we are closer than we have ever been," the Glee guest star, 41, said of her husband, 37, with whom she shares daughter Apple, 9, and son Moses, 7. "We are parents first and foremost, to two incredibly wonderful children and we ask for their and our space and privacy to be respected at this difficult time."
"We have always conducted our relationship privately," the statement continued, "and we hope that as we consciously uncouple and co-parent, we will be able to continue in the same manner."
Paltrow and the British Coldplay singer met in 2002 and were married the next year in Southern California. Since their December 2003 wedding, they've weathered more than a few storms, which the actress has talked openly about in interviews.
"It's hard being married," she told Glamour U.K. last June. "You go through great times, you go through terrible times. We're the same as any couple."
