The celeb Boomerang lovers who’ve made it work second time round – thanks to Maya’s ‘clarity’ rule and Ekin’s order
OUR hearts were left full when our favourite showbiz couple - Stormzy and Maya Jama recently announced that they were back together.
After four years of being apart, fans suspected that the pair had rekindled their romance after spotting strikingly similar holiday pictures on both of the celebs’ social media accounts.
The Love Island presenter, 29, and British rapper Stormzy, 30, split up in 2019, but last week, Maya finally went Instagram official with rapper boyfriend, seven months after reuniting.
In an interview with Vogue UK, Maya spilled the beans about her love life, and the rule she has for partners.
She explained: "I’m like: 'You need to make it clear what you want, otherwise we’re not moving any further than this peck on the cheek vibe.' Wife me or f-k off, basically!"
The TV host then added that while she doesn't have a specific type, one thing she does look for in a partner is "kindness" and "someone I can have a laugh with."
She added: "I need to know that if we got trapped in a lockdown or something, I’m not gonna get bored. I need to feel you’re my friend more than anything – to fancy you on top is just a bonus."
"And I have to respect them. I want to look up to you for something. So either I feel you are super smart, or you’re good at whatever job you do, or that I can learn something."
Following Maya and Stormzy's reconcile, relationship expert Annabelle Knight told Fabulous: “If there’s one thing that Maya Jama and Stormzy have taught us it’s that giving things another go isn’t always a bad idea.
“If you’re thinking about getting back with an ex, you probably need to consider a few things first.
“Rarely, do couples get back together with no issues at all. Of course, that’s not to say second-chance romances are doomed to fail, with the right approach and intent there’s no reason why things shouldn’t work out.
“Firstly, remember why you broke up in the first place. It’s really easy to pop on your rose-tinted glasses when looking back on a relationship, especially if you want to get back with that person.
“However, if you want to make things work a second time around it’s important to take stock of the negatives, acknowledge them as individuals and learn from them as a couple.
“Secondly, know what you want to change this time around. Discussing your expectations with your ex is the only way to find out if you’re on the same page.
“You both need to air grievances, take responsibility for past mistakes and work together to come up with an evolved relationship that will make you both happy.
“A lot of people think that exes are absolute no-goes and that they’re an ex for a reason. This can be the case but with the right approach and equal joint effort, it doesn’t have to be.
“And finally, talk to the most important people in your life. You probably (ok let’s be real here, definitely) said some things about your ex that weren’t exactly flattering. But if you are going to give things another show it’s important to let your loved ones know.
“Sure, they might not be thrilled, but this step is crucial if you want to have their support. Including them in your thought process will help to alleviate any tensions and make your transition to becoming a couple again that much easier.”
But Stormzy and Maya aren't the only celebrity couple to have gone through a rocky patch to get to where they are today.
In fact, many of our favourite celebrity duos have taken time apart from their now-partners before rekindling, or with some, even committing to the 'I dos'.
In light of the pair’s reunion, here, we've rounded up the celeb Boomerang lovers that drastically broke up and reunited after going their separate ways - as well as revealing the rules that have enabled them to make their relationships work the second time round.
Davide and Ekin-Su
Earlier this year, Love Island viewers were left heartbroken when it was revealed that the winners of the 2022 series – Davide Sanclimenti and Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu – had called it quits.
"Ekin-Su and I are no longer together," Davide said on Instagram at the time, adding that he wished her "nothing but the best".
But now, it seems that the pair are back on, with Davide telling The Sun: "It's a lovely feeling being with Ekin, we probably broke up more publicly but never privately because we have always been in touch and the love between me and Ekin have always been there."
He continued: "Breaking up may happen to people but it never actually happened to us. We never properly privately broke up, it was more to do with the public pressure and we were having some tough months."
Speaking about what's changed in their relationship, Davide explained that the pair both had "things" to work on.
"Nor me nor Ekin were perfect in the relationship and probably needed to have a bit more communication," he said.
Since rekindling their romance, he said there's "more of an understanding with each other", their time apart has made them "stronger" and “everything happens for a reason”, as he went on to reveal the pair are planning to move in together.
Not only this, but Ekin, the Turkish beauty, has revealed how the couple make it work, as she described their relationship as a “job on its own”.
She told Ok! Magazine: “Having a relationship is a job on its own! We want to make sure that we’re both supporting each other and seeing each other. It’s not easy.”
As well as this, she said that one thing she has learnt in her relationship with Davide is that you “have to trust your [partner]” because “it’s not easy” dating whilst in the public eye.
She added: “You just have to communicate with your partner, trust your partner and keep your relationship private.”
Kate and Wills
But it’s not only reality TV stars that have gotten back together after calling it quits.
It turns out that even the nation’s sweethearts Prince William and Kate took a brief break back in 2007.
After taking some time apart, the Royal couple reunited later that year at a party at the Prince’s barracks in London to celebrate the end of his training.
The now Prince and Princess of Wales’s relationship continued to blossom and they tied the knot back in 2011.
Since then, they have gone on to celebrate 10 years of marriage and have welcomed three beautiful children; George, Charlotte and Louis.
But it’s been observed that William will break a royal rule, to ensure his tight relationship with Kate.
PDA is generally not the norm when it comes to the royal family, but if you’ve been paying attention lately, you’ve noticed that William and Kate have been packing on some public affection of their own lately - much more than in the earlier years of their marriage and time in the public eye together.
Judi James told The Daily Express: “William and Kate have been keeping royal fans, and each other, supplied with a stream of romantic gestures, tie-signs, and touch rituals since they first married, but their technique seems to be driven by inclusion.
“We can see they are a romantic and in love couple but they never allow their body language rituals together to exclude the viewer.”
That said, James explained that their romantic gestures aren’t overzealous or performative, as she noted: “Subtlety is vital for their public role and as royals, they provide signals that they are a strong couple—which is important after the dysfunctional relationship dramas of the previous generation of royals—but that they maintain an even, steady emotional trend rather than a soap opera of passionate highs and lows.”
J-Lo and Ben Affleck
And it’s just not Brits that have reunited - as you’ll probably all be familiar with J-Lo and Ben Affleck’s rocky relationship timeline.
Formerly one of the world's most public couples, the pair called off their engagement in early 2004.
However, fast forward 17 years, the couple are back on.
Rumours of the pair’s rekindling first ignited in April 2021 when they were spotted outside her LA home following her split from Alex Rodriguez.
The two later enjoyed a trip away, where they were photographed together.
By April 2022, they were once again engaged and in the summer of 2022, they got married (twice!).
And to ensure that relationship works second time round, the Hustlers star, 53, has reportedly dished out a set of rules for Ben to follow when working with the mother of his children, Jennifer Garner.
A source told Woman's Day: "JLo wants 24/7 access to the set and to be able to drop in unannounced.
"There are to be no promo joint interviews and or photoshoots, and no after-work socialising. She wants Ben home as soon as he's done filming."
Justin and Hailey Bieber
Although Justin and Hailey Bieber are now happily married, the pair had to work through a couple of bumps in the road to get to where they are today.
The pair previously dated but called it quits on their relationship in 2016.
Hailer told The Times, “we went through a long period of time when we weren't friends”, but by June 2018, the pair were spotted packing on the PDA.
Just a month later, in July, the pair announced their engagement and have got married twice since — once at a courthouse in New York and a second time at a beautiful ceremony in South Carolina.
And if you’re wondering what keeps their relationship so strong? According to Hailey, it’s their religious beliefs.
In an interview with Elle, Hailey called their faith "the most important part" of their relationship.
She said: "Being able to share that with each other — to have that bond of faith and spirituality — is so [critical] for us.
"Following Jesus together, being a part of the church community together. It's everything."
In a June episode of her YouTube series "A Conversation With ...," Hailey claimed that their faith is responsible for their successful relationship, as she explained: “If we didn't have that, we wouldn't even be here. We wouldn't even be together.”
Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne
Though Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne have been open about the ups and downs of their relationship over their years in the spotlight, fans were shocked when they announced their split in May 2016 after 33 years of marriage.
But as of July 2016, the couple were back together and happily in love.
“They’ve fallen in love again,” a source told Us Weekly, adding that couples therapy saved their marriage.
The rocker confirmed the news later that month during an appearance on Good Morning America, revealing the two were “back on track.”
The duo renewed their wedding vows in Las Vegas in May 2017, as Ozzy told Hello! Magazine: “For me, this was actually our real wedding day. This is the one that I will remember.
“Sharon and I have been through so much, and this honestly feels like a new beginning.”
Since getting back together, Sharon has revealed that forgiveness and trust is key to making their relationship work.
In an interview that aired on The Talk, she claimed: “I can’t speak for him but for me but, yes, I forgive.
"It’s going to take a long time to trust but, you know, we’ve been together 36 years, 34 of marriage, and it’s more than half of my life and I just can’t think of my life without him.
"He’s going to pay for it though, big time.”
Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom
Singer Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom first got together after meeting at a 2016 Golden Globes after-party.
However, their fleeting romance didn't last and the pair's reps confirmed they were "taking respectful, loving space" from each other after a year of dating.
At the time, Katy, addressed the split on Twitter and wrote: "HOW BOUT A NEW WAY OF THINKING FOR 2017⁉️U can still b friends & love ur former partners! No one's a victim or a villain, get a life y'all!😘" (sic).
A mere five months after confirming their split, the Fireworks hitmaker, and Orlando were spotted at an Ed Sheeran concert in Los Angeles.
By February 2018, it was revealed that the couple had rekindled their romance and announced their engagement on Valentine's Day 2019.
The couple have since welcomed their first child together, a daughter named Daisy, and are happier than ever.
In a May 2022 episode of Chelsea Handler's podcast, "Life Will Be the Death of Me," Katy touched on how the two work through their struggles — couples therapy.
She revealed: “Your partners usually see your best and a lot of your worst sides because they’re there to be your mirrors.
“Orlando and I do couples therapy, and we love it because it keeps us in tune, and the resentment can get really strong when you’re both working hard.
"We’ve had a lot of success with that couples therapy.”
Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel
And Katy Perry isn’t the only singer to have got back with an ex - as Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel broke up and got back together too.
The couple were loves young dream when they first started dating in 2007, but the pair split in March 2011 after four years together.
But it seemed that the pair couldn’t keep apart, as they rekindled their romance two months later and were engaged in December 2011.
The Sinner star married Justin in 2012 and they have since welcomed two sons; Silas and Phineas.
And the secret to their now over 10 year marriage? Strict rules.
Justin previously claimed: "I answer to a higher power now. We have a couple of rules in our relationship.
“The first rule is that I make her feel like she's getting everything.
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“The second rule is that I actually do let her have her way in everything. And, so far, it's working."
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