AJ McLean Shares Update On Hernia Surgery And Post Op Amid Marriage Split

AJ McLean might be taking a marriage break, but his post-surgery recovery matters to him now.

A week after the news of his separation from his wife, Rochelle Deanna, hit the net, the Backstreet Boys member was hospitalized. He apprised his millions of followers via Instagram that he was going under the knife for a critical operation. 

Fans didn't have to look too far for the medical complaints; he instantly mentioned that it was for a hernia operation. The pop singer looked like he was minutes away from being wheeled to the operating room, but thankfully, he appeared confident. 

He donned the hospital gown with a nose mask and had the necessary IV attached to his wrist. In the caption, he asked his followers to wish him lunch, and they did accordingly in the post's comment section.

Hours after his operation, the father-of-two shared a glimpse of his post-surgery lifestyle and showed off his bandages. The dancer released three pictures to his timeline to update supporters about his surgery.

He wore a black long-sleeve shirt, grey joggers, and a pink beanie hat. Alongside his outfit, the singer rocked a Cuban link choker necklace, wristwatch, and hand chains. One snap showed the singer lying on a mattress with a stern look, while the others revealed the bandages on his abs as he moved his shirt out of the way.

In the caption, the salsa dancer conveyed that he was still in pain but was hopeful for a speedy recovery. He shared that his post-surgery lifestyle included "lots of bed rest and movies." Ultimately, he appreciated everyone for their prayers and support.

McLean's fans flooded his post-op upload with encouraging remarks. One concerned fan wrote, "Praying for a speedy recovery and you start to feel pain-free soon don't overdo anything just relax and enjoy some downtime." Another fan penned:

"I'm so glad that everything went well, lots of rest and take it slow, get well soon @aj _mclean and take care of you ❤️❤️❤️❤️."

The news of his surgery comes after he announced that he and his wife were pumping the brakes on their marriage. Per The Blast, the "Truth or Dare" actor clarified in his statement that the split was necessary to "work on themselves" to get better results from their union.

He further noted that he and Rochelle intend to "come back together and continue to nurture our love for one another and our family." The statement also included a request for "respect and privacy at this time" from commentators.

Afterward, it ended  with, "Separation is hard enough without the commentary; please be kind and remember there are children involved."

The "As Long as You Love Me" hitmaker was not without his tragic past, even when he attained the success and popularity in the 90s that many only wished they had. 

Achieving fame at such a young age plunged him into drug and alcohol addiction, prompting his in and out between 2001 and 2019. Now sober, The Blast shared how he opened up about his experience with alcoholism on Cheryl Burke's show.

In January, Burke took to her Instagram story to announce McLean's appearance on her talk show. She hyped the interview to her viewers, telling them it would mainly help those dealing with addiction. 

A four-second clip showed the model talking to the 45-year-old about one of his canceled tours. He confirmed by saying, "Yeah when I went to rehab." The last update was longer and concentrated on the guest star who disclosed, "My alcoholism affected everybody in my life."

The "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" actor mentioned that getting sober helped distinguish between those meant to be in your life and those there because of the alcohol. 

The "Teenage Wildlife" singer added that people jumped ship when he finally stopped drinking for the first time. He said, "And I was like, ok, well now I know, you answered that question for me. Now I know why you were my friend. It was because you knew I could get you into the clubs and parties."

Before the video ended, the "Dancing With The Stars" pro chimed in and asked him, "So what made you stop? Like what made you decide like I'm done."