Daddy Yankee (real name: Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez) and his longtime wife Mireddys González are getting divorced. The Puerto Rican artist announced the news on Monday (Dec. 2).
“With a heart full of respect and honesty, I want to share some important news about my personal life,” he said in a statement on his Instagram Stories. “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 respond to the divorce petition received by Mireddys.”
He continued to note that his faith in Christ was his refuge and constant guide as the couple — who were high school sweethearts and have two grown kids — tried to overcome their differences. “This is not an easy time, but I understand that it is part of my life process,” he shared. “It is time to accept and continue. Protect my stability, my children and everything built over so many years. I deeply thank those who have accompanied us during this journey and I ask that you respect our privacy in this process. I know that this news may surprise many.”
In the letter, he expressed his respect for González’s decision and that he is “grateful for the time we shared, full of blessings and values, of love and with a beautiful family that will continue to be our priority.”
González was manager of the former reggeatón artist, and CEO of El Cartel Records, and is widely known to wield broad influence over her Yankee’s music career — which the artist previously said to Billboard: “She’s the boss. She has always been the boss.”
The surprising divorce news comes just two months after Billboard reported that indie music giant Concord acquired parts of the music publishing and recorded music catalog of the Puerto Rican superstar. The deal encompasses certain rights to Daddy Yankee songs including “Con Calma,” his rights as a featured artist on “Despacito” and “Gasolina.”
This year, Daddy Yankee has also been devoted to his faith and beliefs. He opened up about his new life chapter during his four back-to-back farewell concerts in Puerto Rico in late 2022.
“For many years I’ve tried filling a void in my life that no one could fill,” the global Latin urban star told fans at the time. “I tried finding a purpose — on many occasions it seemed as if I was happy, but something was missing for me to feel complete. I have to confess that those days are over, and someone was able to fill that void that I felt for a lot of time. I realized that for everyone I was someone, but I was no one without him.”
