Daddy Yankee and his wife are calling it quits after 29 years of marriage.
The rapper, 48, who retired nearly a year ago in order to dedicate his life to Christ, revealed the surprising news on Monday that he and wife Mireddys González, 47, were going their separate ways on his Instagram Stories.
‘With a heart full of respect and honesty, I want to share some important news about my personal life,’ the Reggaeton artist wrote in Spanish.
‘After more than two decades of marriage and after many months of trying to save my marriage, which my wife and I share, today my lawyers responded to the divorce petition received from Mireddys,’ he explained.
The couple married in 1995, when the rapper was only 17 and share two children together; Jesaaelys, 28 and Jeremy, 26. The singer is also dad to daughter Yamilet, age unknown from a previous relationship.
Gonzalez went on to become Yankee Daddy’s manager and CEO of El Cartel Records, which was founded in 1997.
Daddy Yankee, 48, and his wife Mireddys González, 47, are calling it quits after 29 years of marriage. Pictured in Tampa in January 2023
The Gasolina artist said ‘my faith in Christ is my refuge at this moment and it will be my constant guide while we settle our differences.’
The hitmaker stated he respected his wife’s decision to file for divorce and appreciated ‘the time we shared, full of blessings and values, of love and with a beautiful family that will continue to be our priority.’
‘This is not an easy time, but I understand that it is part of my life process,’ he admitted.
‘I deeply thank those who have accompanied us during this journey and I ask that you respect our privacy in this process,’ the Grammy winner stated.
‘ know that this news may surprise many,’ he added.
‘Thank you for your unconditional support. This will be my only statement.’ The artist concluded by using his legal name Raymond Ayala.
After the rapper retired, Gonzalez seemed to be looking forward to her future with her longtime spouse. ‘Today I have mixed feelings, I am HAPPY and SAD,’ she shared on social media.
‘As we celebrate our 27th wedding anniversary, I hear you tell the WORLD that you are retiring from MUSIC that has been your passion for these last three decades.’
The Grammy winner released this statement in Spanish revealing he was responding to Gonzalez’s divorce petition and asked for his fans to respect his and his family’s privacy during this difficult time
The couple married in 1995 when he was only 17. They are the parents of two children, Jesaaelys, 28 and Jeremy, 26. The singer is also dad to daughter Yamilet, age unknown from a previous relationship
The Gasolina artist announced his retirement from secular music in December 2023 in order to dedicate his life to Christ. He has asked his fans for ‘privacy in this process’ as he and Gonzalez navigate their divorce (Pictured in Miami in 2007)
‘Soon it’s your turn to say goodbye to the stage. You’ve enjoyed Daddy Yankee for so long, but now it’s up to Raymond Ayala to enjoy what he’s built.’
Shortly after stepping away from his secular career, Yankee Daddy released the faith-based song Blood Donor in March.
The musician was most recently in Argentina where he was sharing his faith at a packed Chacarita stadium in Villa Maipú.
The artist has also been spreading the Gospel via music releasing two new singles, Loveo and the Grammy nominated Bonita.
His birth name is Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez.
Yankee is known as a Puerto Rican rapper, singer and actor.
He who rose to fame in 2004 with the song Gasolina.
Dubbed the King of Reggaeton, he is often cited as an influence by other Hispanic urban performers.
