Maya Jama and NBA star Ben Simmons split eight months after getting engaged

Maya Jama has reportedly split from her fiancé Ben Simmons eight months after getting engaged. 

The British presenter, 28, and the basketball star, 26, have struggled with their busy schedules and long distance – with Simmons based in Brooklyn and Jama in the UK. 

‘While they both care for each other so much, they truly gave it their all and realize that they just come from two different worlds,’ a source told NY Post of the breakup, adding that it was ‘one of the hardest decisions of their lives.’

‘It’s been a difficult time for them,’ the insider went on, ‘They now understand they don’t have the time they thought to dedicate to this relationship.’

‘After many long nights and hours of heartfelt talks, they finally realized as much as they love each other, their nonstop careers and endless travel have made it incredibly impossible to make it work,’ the source added.

The unnamed source also revealed that the couple ‘had no idea the challenges they would face when handling all the logistics of making a life together in two countries.’

The duo reportedly hope to stay in each other’s lives, as ‘there is a lot of love between them.’ 

Earlier this month the couple quashed break-up rumors as the basketball player shared a loved-up snap of the pair.

It came after a source claimed the pair’s relationship had hit the rocks after Maya decided she wanted to focus on her career.

Taking to his Instagram Stories, the athlete showed they are very much still together as he shared an adorable black and white throwback snap of the pair together.

Maya also took to her Twitter to seemingly deny the report.

‘Stop believing sources in papers plz,’ she tweeted, a day after the breakup report came out. 

It was speculated that they had ended their romance last month as Maya wanted to focus on her career, The Sun claimed.

Ben proposed to Maya last Christmas following a whirlwind seven-month romance after she spent the festive period at his £3.7million mansion in New Jersey.

Despite the reports of their split, Maya was still seen sporting her huge engagement ring at the GRM Gala last week where she wore a striking red gown.

The pair had a long-distance relationship, with the beauty often travelling back and forth to America, where he plays basketball for the Brooklyn Nets.

A source told the publication: ‘Maya called it off engagement after things came to head last month.

‘She is not going back to New York now, it’s heartbreaking for both of them, especially as they were so committed to each other.

‘They’re both young and want to focus on their careers. Maya has a bright future ahead of her with job offers coming in all over the world and is feeling positive.

‘She has been hitting the gym a lot and spending time with her good friends.’

Experts valued Maya’s emerald-cut diamond engagement ring at £600k ($800k).

Maya and Ben were first romantically linked in June 2021 after they were seen on a night out together at restaurant Sexy Fish in London’s Mayfair.

The couple went public while kissing in the stands at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in front of the world’s media the following month.

A source told The Sun after their engagement: ‘Ben adores Maya and has fallen head over heels for her. He picked up the ring on Jewellers’ Row in the diamond district of Philadelphia the day before he proposed…

‘He chose the ring himself and felt he knew exactly what she would want. Maya said yes and they’re both thrilled.’

The pair enjoyed a trip to Turks And Caicos in June with a group of friends.

Maya appeared in a sweet photo from the holiday with her beau with a pal capturing the love birds sitting on a beach deep in conversation.

And in July they were spotted on holiday in Las Vegas together.

Ben previously dated Kendall Jenner, 26, but the pair called things off in May 2019 after months of dating on-and-off.

Maya, meanwhile, dated rapper Stormzy for four years, with the pair splitting the same year – ending their relationship in order to focus on their careers instead.

However, the pair were spotted looking cosy together in the smoking area at the GQ Men Of The Year Awards 2021.

The two stars had been one of the most popular couple in showbiz prior to their shock split, with the stunning presenter moving out of their shared home shortly after her 25th birthday celebrations.

Stormzy seemed to address rumours he had strayed in his subsequent music releases – with his song Lessons said to be about the heartbreaking split and lyrics confessing that he had ‘done the dirt’ on the TV star.

However, the award-winning musician later revealed he hadn’t been unfaithful throughout his relationship but instead, admitted to showing ‘disrespect’ to his famous ex.

‘If there was a box of what a good woman is, she ticks every one, she’s amazing. But I didn’t cheat on her. I actually didn’t cheat,’ he told HOT 97 at the start of 2020.

‘Don’t get it twisted, I’m still definitely an a***hole. 100%, that’s a fact. I’m an a***hole.

‘But I thought now was a good time to say that I didn’t cheat on my ex.’