21 December 2023 , 16:01
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Mariah Carey is reported to have split from her dancer beau Bryan Tanaka after seven years together.
The tell-tale signs the superstar, 54, and her partner, 40, had gone their separate ways have been revealed. Here, we look back at their time together.
Power dynamics:
Mariah was his boss, and he was her employee. Mariah and Bryan first got to know each other when they began working together in 2006.
He joined her critically-acclaimed Adventures of Mimi tour as a backing dancer. The arena tour was in support of her album the Emancipation of Mimi and was a huge opportunity for Bryan, who was 23-years-old at the time while the superstar was 37 and at the top of her game.
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Mariah was her ex's boss (Apple TV/Everett/REX/Shutterstock)It wasn't until 2016 that romance started to blossom. Prior to that they spent the first 10 years getting to know one another as employer and employee.
Power dynamics can cause problems in relationships, and could have contributed to the demise of their romance. Her huge fame, as well as being his boss could have caused some strain.
Rebound romance
Mariah's whirlwind romance and engagement to Australian billionaire James Packer came to an end in October 2016. The singer quickly jumped into a new relationship with Bryan afterwards.
They did not split on the most amicable terms with Packer awarding Mariah a multi-million pound settlement. The Heart-breaker star also omitted all the details of her engagement from the memoir.
She later confirmed her romance with Packer was over for good when she was spotted being affectionate with Bryan at the beach. It was a romantic Thanksgiving trip.
In an eye-opening confession, she later said her relationship with Packer was 'never physical'. It seemed perhaps a steamy rebound may have been just what she was looking for.
Several splits
The first split took place just after they were spotted kissing on the beach during their Thanksgiving getaway in 2016. Mariah and Bryan split for the first time in April 2017.
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ET reported that a source said Bryan was 'extremely jealous' of Mariah's ex-husband Nick Cannon. Comedian Nick is the father of her 12-year-old twins Monroe and Moroccan, otherwise known as 'dem babies'.
The outlet reported Bryan was less than impressed when Mariah was gushing about Nick to waiters at a restaurant. They claimed jealousy was to blame for their fall-out.
There were rumours and claims accusing Bryan of being a 'freeloader' and only using Mariah for 'fame and money' after he was said to get his own back by 'ordering lots of food and drinks' and 'putting it on Mariah's tab.'
However, the couple managed to put this behind them, and Bryan was by her side to celebrate her 47th birthday. The duo were officially back together again later in 2017.
Age gap romance
Mariah Carey and Bryan Tanaka (FilmMagic for Mirage Entertainme)The couple looked great together, with fans hardly battling an eyelid about their difference in years. Despite Mariah's youthful good looks, there was a 14 year age gap between Bryan and Mariah, that in the end perhaps could not be ignored.
Mariah has always been open and honest about her preference for younger men - despite only having one other age-gap romance with Nick Cannon who is 11 years her junior. She opened up about her private life and very few partners she had when she spoke to Cosmopolitan in 2019.
The mum-of-two said: "I haven't had that many, but there has been a variety pack. I've only been with five people in my life, so I'm kind of a prude honestly, compared to most others in the field."
Family matters
Mariah and Bryan are said to have broken up over their different outlooks on family, say reports. It all started when fans notice they weren't posting on social media with each other.
With less photos to look at, fans felt their connection may have been fading. He then stopped making public appearances which only fuelled the speculation.
Now it has been claimed that Bryan's desire to have a family was the reason for the split. The source told Page Six: “He wants to have a family. That’s not where she is at."
As fans mourn the end of their seven year long relationship, they reckon that it came to came to a devastating close as the dancer wants something different in life.