LOS ANGELES, April 20 (UPI) -- Singer Ariana Grande and rapper Big Sean have broken up after dating for less than nine months.
A joint statement released Monday morning said: "They both care deeply for each other and remain close friends. We kindly ask that the media respect their wish for privacy regarding this personal matter at this time."
The duo was first linked in August 2014 and went on different media outlets gushing about one another.
In October, Grande first commented on her then beau, to Telegraph magazine, describing the rapper as "one of the most amazing men in the world, and that includes my grandfather and my brother."
Then Big Sean admitted to radio listeners while On Air with Ryan Seacrest "That Ariana is very, very special. She's very special to me."
It seemed as if there could have been trouble in paradise between the couple when rumors circulated that Big Sean threatened (then deleted) Justin Bieber on Twitter for getting handsy with his lady love during a recent concert performance.
The rapper's rep then denied the alleged tweet to >TMZ.
Both singers are on tour promoting their latest albums, Big Sean's Dark Sky Paradise and Grande's The Honeymoon Tour .
