After twenty years together and nearly nine years of marriage Robin Thicke and his wife Paula Patton haveannounced their separation.For some it might come as a shock considering the pair have been together since they were teenagers, but others will see this one as a long time coming, especially when you considering Robin’s roller coaster year.

Robin Thicke and Paula Patton Robin Thicke and Paula Patton in happier times

It all started with the release of ‘Burred Lines’ in March 2013, the single propelled Thicke from little known R&B singer to household name. A lot of the song’s attention came from its provocative and suggestive lyrical content, which many objected to, calling it misogynistic. However the other controversy was the song’s explicit video which featured full frontal naked women dancing with the singer. People were quick to wonder whether the singer’s actress wife was comfortable with the raunchy video. However Patton was quick to let everybody know that her husband had her full support, appearing on chat show ‘Chelsea Lately’, Mrs Thicke said the video originally made her a, ’little bit jealous’, but then she ‘wanted to jump his bones.’ She also confessed that it was in fact her who convinced Thicke to release the uncensored version of the video, telling him she liked it ‘better than the clothed version.’

Whilst Thicke was already becoming R&B’s most controversial star, his performance at the 2013 MTV VMA’s in August would only increase his some what ‘sleazy’ image. Thicke took to the stage during Miley Cyrus’s performance of ‘We Can’t Stop’ in his finest ‘Beetlejuice’ costume. Thicke stood as Miley unleashed the twerk that shocked the world on him in the overtly sexual performance. Once again Paula was quick to give her support to her husband telling E! News, "It's just so funny, because when I saw him perform I was like, 'you guys killed it!' We hugged each other, we went out, celebrated. The next day, my cell phone [has] all these texts: 'Praying for you.' 'If you need to talk, I'm here."

Watch the Blurred Lines unrated video:

However further controversy was to hit the singer when days later a photo vent viral of the ‘Blurred Lines’ singer with his hand on a fan’s behind at a VMA after party. In the photo Robin’s hand can be clearly seen on the blonde after they unfortunately chose to stand in front of a mirror. The girl was identified as Lara Scolaro who has since kept it classy by telling TMZ, "I'd love to grab a drink with him if he asked", after hearing of the couples split.

The next month Thicke would appear on the cover of Treats magazine surrounded with more nude models. The singer would once again claim that he had his wife’s full support, saying she encouraged the raunchy shoot. He told the magazine, "At first I thought, 'Okay, let’s just do topless'' ...but, again, my wife and her friends were like, ''No way…go all the way."

As cool as Paula might have been with Thicke playing up to his image in videos and photo shoots, last month Robin was caught in an incident she mightn’t have been too understanding about. Photos emerged of Thicke in a Parisian night club getting closer to another partier. The photos once again called the couple’s relationship into question.

Robin ThickeNewly single Robin Thicke

It’s certainly been a whirlwind year for Robin Thicke, however it seems the singer’s long awaited success might a put a strain on his 9 year marriage. Whilst we don't know the exact reasons for the couples split, looking back over the couple’s past 12 months it’s not that much of a surprise that the couple have finally called it quits.