The romance is over for Robin Thicke and Paula Patton. The couple has announced their separation after nearly nine years of marriage.

“We will always love each other and be best friends, however, we have mutually decided to separate at this time,” the singer and actress told PEOPLE in a joint statement on Monday.

The high school sweethearts, who first met when Thicke was 14, have been married since 2005. They welcomed their son Julian Fuego in April 2010.

The split comes after Thicke was photographed grabbing a female fan’s ass at a VMA after-party last year.

Their last public appearance together was at the Grammy Awards in January.