Ariana Grande and Big Sean Call it Quits, Will ‘Remain Close Friends’

Ariana Grande and her boyfriend of nearly nine months, Big Sean, have called it quits just weeks after the "Love Me Harder" singer got very flirty with Justin Bieber on stage.

The exes released a formal joint statement to Us Magazine Monday morning that read:

"They both care deeply for each other and remain close friends. We kindly ask that the media respect their wish for privacy regarding this personal matter at this time."

The break-up might come as a shock to many. Over the past few months, the couple has been very public about their romance. Both artists frequently posted PDA-packed photos on their respective Instagram accounts. The duo also attended the 2015 Grammy Awards as a couple.

Just earlier this year, Big Sean talked about his lady-love on the segment, On Air with Ryan Seacrest.

The 27-year-old rapper has said, "That Ariana is very, very special. She's very special to me. Everything she has going on is good with her, everything I have going on is good with me, everything between me and her is good, and I'm just going to leave it at that."

Grande and Big Sean were first linked in August 2014. The songstress later confirmed their relationship in October.

The couple did not give a reason as to why they decided to break up, but in Hollywood, busy schedules always seem to be the main culprit.

An Us source claimed, "They made the decision to part ways because their conflicting touring schedules would keep them apart over the next year."

Grande just finished the North American part of her Honeymoon tour. The European leg of the tour will start in September. Big Sean, on the other hand, will hit the road this summer for several concerts.