According to the Daily Mail, which cited sources close to the couple, the two quietly went their separate ways late last year after deciding they had reached different points in their lives. The report describes the split as amicable, with both continuing to hold each other in high regard.
Although neither Cox nor McDaid has publicly commented on the reported breakup, the news marks the end of one of Hollywood’s longest-running low-profile relationships. Over the years, the pair largely kept their romance out of the spotlight while balancing careers that often placed them on opposite sides of the Atlantic.
A Relationship That Spanned More Than a Decade
Cox, best known for playing Monica Geller on “Friends”, and McDaid, a member of Snow Patrol and an acclaimed songwriter, began dating in the fall of 2013 after being introduced through mutual friend Ed Sheeran. Their relationship quickly became serious, leading to an engagement in 2014.
The couple experienced a brief breakup the following year before reconciling in 2015. Rather than returning to wedding plans, they chose to continue their relationship without getting married, a decision Cox later discussed publicly as one that ultimately worked for them.
Their relationship also endured long stretches of distance. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cox remained in the United States while McDaid was in Europe, forcing them to spend more than four months apart before they were reunited. At the time, both spoke openly about maintaining their connection despite the separation.
The latest report suggests geography eventually became a more permanent challenge. Cox has continued to live primarily in Los Angeles, while McDaid has spent much of his time in the United Kingdom. Sources cited by the Daily Mail said the pair ultimately realized they were living different lives, but emphasized that the breakup was friendly and that they remain supportive of one another.
