Jennifer Lopez and Casper Smart End Their 5-year Relationship

Jennifer Lopez and Casper Smart End Their 5-year Relationship

Rumors of Lopez and Smart’s romance first began circulating in late 2011. At the time, a source told PEOPLE it was “a fun fling” and “not meant to turn into anything more.” But the Shades of Blue star and the actor and creative director stayed together – speaking openly about their relationship in July 2012.

“She’s sweet, funny, nice, easygoing and gracious,” Smart said of Lopez in March. “You can’t ask for anything more. She’s beautiful.”

While they have been on-again and off-again in the past, they have mostly kept their romance out of the spotlight.

“We don’t really go out very much,” he explained. “We both don’t drink, we don’t do any drugs, smoking, pills or any of the craziness. We don’t get wrapped up in the Hollywood life that can chew you up and spit you out. I’ve seen it happen a million times.”

The couple have lately been spotted together in Las Vegas – getting cozy on Lopez’s birthday party in on July 24. Smart even attended her hit Caesar’s Palace show on Aug. 13 – alongside Lopez’s ex-husband Marc Anthony and his model girlfriend Shannon de Lima.

A few days later, on Aug. 16, Smart was spotted out in West Hollywood, after dining at Craig’s Restaurant with former Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger and Modern Family star Sarah Hyland.

Lopez previously told PEOPLE and EW‘s editorial director Jess Cagle that Smart has a big role in the lives of her 8-year-old, Max and Emme.

She balanced the relationship between Smart and Anthony by putting her kids’ interests first.

“My relationship with them – our references are always in reference to the kids. What’s best for them, what’s good for them, let’s talk this way in front of them… Once they’re happy, they just add happiness and joy into the home and then everything else kind of goes from there.”