Demi Lovato and Wilmer Valderrama break up after 6 years: We are better as best friends

Demi Lovato and Wilmer Valderrama have announced the news of their break up with a joint statement on Instagram after six blissful years of togetherness. As another couple bites the dust, it seems to be a tragic moment for young love, with news of Taylor Swift and Calvin Harris, and Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik calling it quits earlier this week.

Lovato and Valderrama succeed the other couples (who recently broke up) when it comes to the time period that their romance lasted. On Friday, the couple took to Instagram to share the disheartening news.

"After almost 6 loving and wonderful years together, we have decided to end our relationship," the post read. "This was an incredibly difficult decision for both of us, but we have realized more than anything that we are better as best friends. We will always be supportive of one another."

Before mutually signing off the Instagram message, the duo shared: "Thank you to everyone who has offered us kindness and support over the years."

While Lovato and Valderrama have made no further comments regarding the ending of their six-year-long relationship, the news of their break up sure comes as a shock to many. Lovato, now 23, had begun dating the 36-year-old at the young age of 17 and has never shied away from gushing about their romance in public.

"He's very manly, and he can be stubborn like Latino men can, but he's protective and he cares so much and loves so hard. I've been blessed enough to have him in my life, and not just as my man, but also my best friend," Lovato had earlier told Latina magazine.

The Confident songstress struggled through eating disorders in the past and she credited her ex-boyfriend with helping her get through the phase.

"I've been my heaviest in my relationship with Wilmer and also been my thinnest. He's seen it all and loves me equally, and it gives me confidence to know that," she explained.

Marriage rumours had also followed the couple after they celebrated their sixth anniversary in January with a collage of their years of togetherness. When Ellen prodded the singer about not seeing a ring, she had confidently responded: "We've been together this long..obviously I'm not going anywhere."