Mick’s emotional statement below ends months of speculation after reports surfaced toward the end of 2015 that their marriage was in trouble.
He says they initially denied any problems because they were committed to working things out at the time.
“I have nothing but love and respect for this woman,” writes Mick. “Karissa has stood by me since we first met in 2004. We have shared plenty of great times but more importantly she has helped me through some of the toughest moments in my life, especially this past year.
“There has been some speculation about our marriage coming to an end over the past six months. We refuted those claims because we were both committed to working things out since we separated last February.
“After giving it our all though, late last year we made the tough mutual decision to move on separately.
“It feels weird to put our personal life out there like this but we want to eliminate any speculation about this decision. We’re still close and there’s a lot of love there.
“This is the only statement we’ll be making about our relationship and we appreciate everyone respecting our privacy concerning this matter. Thanks so much.”
Mick and Karissa, who married in 2008 after meeting through mutual friends four years earlier, have been open in the past about the struggles of juggling careers and their marriage.
Karissa runs The Lane, a Gold Coast-based online wedding and lifestyle publication, while Mick travels for nine months of the year as one the world’s best surfers.
It’s been a tumultuous few months for Mick, on and off the demanding surfing circuit.
He made headlines around the world when he fought off a shark in the final round of a competition in South Africa in July.
More recently, the three-time world champ buried his older brother Peter, 43, who passed away from an ‘enlarged heart’ after suffering from a serious hyperthyroid disease.
