Maya Jama and Stormzy's relationship timeline explored as couple announces breakup a year after reconciling

Rapper Stormzy announced his split from his girlfriend, Love Island host Maya Jama, just a year after the two rekindled their relationship in 2023. On July 17, 2024, Jama took to social media to announce their breakup with a joint statement from the pair.

"We've been laughing whilst drafting this because we never, ever, in a million years thought we'd be the couple announcing a breakup, but for the sake of clarity and, more importantly, to allow us the space and grace that's needed for us both to be able to navigate this next bit of our lives with peace, we thought it might be best to," the statement read.

The couple also gave a little insight into their relationship, adding that they first met in 2014 and broke up in 2019, spending the next five years away from each other. They rekindled their romance in August 2023, but ultimately "decided to call it quits" less than a year later.

They added that they will always be friends, and asked people to respect their privacy and avoid speculations or personal questions.

"Love you guys and thank you for all the love you've showered us with, it's been beautiful! Mike & MJ x," the statement concluded.

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Stormzy and Maya Jama started dating in 2015

Maya Jama and Stormzy, whose real name is Michael Ebenezer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr., met in 2014 at a London event when they were 20 and 21 respectively. During a joint interview with Vogue in 2018, the couple revealed that they officially started dating in January 2015.

"If I'm really honest, I knew I fancied him from the start. But I didn't want anything yet, because, you know, you're trying to do the whole friend situation first, and then I'd do, like, obvious hints that I fancied him and then take it back because I didn't know if he definitely likes me. It was a childish phase. And then one day we just kissed, and that was that!" Jama said.

In August 2016, Stormzy released a song titled Birthday Girl and dedicated it to Maya Jama for her 22nd birthday. The Love Island host also appeared in the rapper's music video for Big For Your Boots, the lead single from his 2017 debut album Gang Signs & Prayer.

By 2017, the relationship started getting serious, and Stormzy even had plans to propose to her. But the couple announced their breakup in 2019, with Jama revealing the reason as wanting to focus on her TV and radio career. Speculations of Stormzy being unfaithful circulated, which the rapper denied.

That same year, the British rapper released his second studio album, Heavy Is The Head, in which he alluded to the breakup in a few tracks. In 2020, Stormzy spoke about the breakup during his YouTube interview with Charlamagne Tha God.

“I would love to be the man who she needs, I would love to do all the things that make this work. I want to marry her, I want to have her children,” he said.

Meanwhile, Maya Jama talked about the lack of privacy in their relationship in a 2020 interview with Shopping with Keith Lemon. She added that while it was "a normal relationship" to her, people always wanted to know more about their personal lives.

Jama entered into a relationship with Australian basketball star Ben Simmons, whom she was engaged to in 2021. But the couple announced their split in 2022. That same year. Stormzy opened up about the impact of the breakup in a documentary with Louis Theroux.

“My breakup was probably the biggest catalyst for my growth as a man. It was like, 'OK, you made a mistake and you lose someone you loved, someone you cared for, someone who is special to you,'” he said.

In 2022, speculations about a reconciliation brewed when Stormzy and Maya Jama were spotted attending the same events. However, Jama denied the rumors. In August 2023, she attended the All Points East festival which Stormzy headlined.

In October 2023, the couple confirmed their reconciliation when photographs of them on vacation walking hand-in-hand in Greece hit social media. The couple were spotted attending events together, including Jama's Beauty Works launch in May 2024.

The pair announced their breakup via social media on July 17, 2024.