Why Mariah Carey broke up with her long-time boyfriend, Bryan Tanaka: the ‘All I Want For Christmas is You’ star and her beau of 7 years reportedly split over differing family wants
Christmas is typically regarded as a time for spending cherished moments with friends and family, but Mariah Carey, the queen of the holidays, will no longer be singing “All I Want for Christmas Is You” to her beau of seven years, Bryan Tanaka, this festive season.
Speculations of their break-up had been floating around for a while and gained momentum when Tanaka, a regular backing dancer in Carey’s shows, was notably absent from her recent performance at the Yaamava’ Resort & Casino in California, per British media.
Fans – keenly observant as always – also pointed out that Carey seemed “downbeat” and “low energy” during her performance, which only fuelled speculation that she might have gone through a recent break-up.
Here’s everything we know about Tanaka and his now former relationship with the pop diva.
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Bryan Tanaka describes himself as a “half-Asian, half-Hawaiian white boy”
Tanaka was born in Washington in April 1983 to an American mother and a Japanese father, according to Nextshark.
In a video introduction posted on his YouTube channel, Tanaka describes himself as a “half-Asian, half-Hawaiian white boy”.
He is a master choreographer and acclaimed dancer
Per his teaching bio on the Broadway Dance Centre website, Tanaka has embarked on over eight world tours, and his work has included choreography for Beyoncé.
He has also worked with Madonna, Rihanna, Usher, Lady Gaga and many more renowned artists.
He has worked with Mariah Carey professionally since 2006
Carey and Tanaka have a history that spans nearly two decades, as reported by People. The “Hero” singer first began collaborating with the talented dancer back in 2006.
However, their romantic involvement reportedly began in 2016, following Carey’s separation from her then-fiancé, Australian billionaire businessman James Packer. According to People, Packer supposedly felt jealous towards Tanaka due to Carey’s close relationship with the dancer.
“Something connected with us back in the day and there was just a mutual admiration,” Tanaka told E! News back in 2016. “She saw something in me that I actually didn’t recognise at first, from that it was over. It was set in history that we were gonna be connected some way, somehow.”
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He got along with Carey’s twins, Monroe and Moroccan
Tanaka has been spotted hanging out with the clan on numerous occasions, from spending Christmas together in Aspen, to celebrating Thanksgiving with the twins’ father, Cannon.
It wouldn’t be the first time they’ve broken up …
Per People, the pair split briefly back in April 2017 due to issues over “jealousy” and “expenses”. However, the break-up didn’t last long as they reunited just a month later, according to the magazine.
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Additional reporting by Sumnima Kandangwa
- Fans’ break-up speculation appears to have been confirmed: Tanaka, 40, wants a family while Carey, 54, does not, as she already parents 2 kids, Moroccan and Monroe, with her ex Nick Cannon
- Tanaka was a backing dancer with Carey before they started a romantic relationship – the Asian-American choreographer has also worked with Beyoncé, Madonna and Lady Gaga