Fergie and Josh Duhamel announce their separation after eight years of marriage

Fergie and Josh Duhamel have confirmed that they have separated after eight years of marriage.

Black Eyed Peas star Fergie, 42, and actor Josh, 44, announced the news of their split in a joint statement released to PEOPLE magazine, which revealed that they'd parted ways earlier this year.

'With absolute love and respect we decided to separate as a couple earlier this year,' the couple said.

'To give our family the best opportunity to adjust, we wanted to keep this a private matter before sharing it with the public. We are and will always be united in our support of each other and our family.'

Josh and Fergie, whose real name is Stacy Ann, met when she appeared on his show Las Vegas with her band in 2004. They tied the knot four years later in a romantic California ceremony.

In August 2013, the couple became parents to their son, Axl Jack, now four. After news of Fergie's pregnancy broke, Josh told E! News that starting a family had been 'something we've wanted for a very long time.'

'We're both just over the moon about it,' he added.

'I had this dream, and I was in the audience at this festival,' Fergie later told Ellen DeGeneres of the pair's unusual choice of baby name.

'It was outdoors and it was all grimy and nobody knew who I was. I was just one of the fans. It was like the old days. It was so cool. And onstage singing was Jim Morrison. And then came Bob Marley, and then Axl Rose.'

'I mean, I was in heaven in this dream. And I'm dancing and just getting into the music, and then all of a sudden, boom boom! And I wake up, and it was the first time my son kicked me in the stomach.

'It seems he liked the dream, too. It was like he was feeling the music with me. It was amazing.'