“I never thought my parents would get divorced. I was grieving and mourning,” their only daughter, Mayan said.
George Lopez, the renowned comedian, and actor, captured the hearts of many with his quick wit and hilarious performances centering on Latin experiences. In 2005, Lopez faced a critical health crisis when he was diagnosed with a genetic condition called autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. The condition severely affected his kidney function, putting his life at risk, per PEOPLE.
In a moment of desperation and uncertainty, his wife, Ann Serrano, made an incredibly selfless decision to donate one of her kidneys to him, hoping to save his life and preserve their future together. Ann underwent the surgery, giving her husband a second chance at life, per ABC News. "I was toxic, man. I could have died," he said. "I could have shut down in my sleep." Now he makes sure everyone knows who is responsible for his new lease on life: his wife, Ann, who donated the kidney. "She's it, man, she's it. And she's been telling me she was it forever and it took me a long time to believe her but she's right," Lopez said.
Ann, however, remained modest about her act. "You know what, having a baby is harder than giving a kidney," she said. Lopez was grateful, but his wife said, "He doesn't need to thank me. For what? I love him." Unfortunately, despite Ann's selfless act, their relationship faced significant challenges in the subsequent years. Reports emerged in 2010 of George Lopez's infidelity, indicating that he had cheated on his wife.
George Lopez cheated on his wife after she gave him a kidney and on a lesser note, also shit on the city that loved him and where he had his largest stand-up special. #buttface https://t.co/ASCZ8qZ4yO
— 💜 Sarah (@Sarahthelizard) August 19, 2022
The news of George Lopez's extramarital affairs shattered the family. The pain and heartbreak experienced by Ann must have been unimaginable, especially considering the incredible sacrifice she had made for her husband. Their only daughter, Mayan, opened up to Shondaland with her experiences of the breaking marriage. “My dad was the one who caused the divide,” she said. Mayan was 15 when they split, and shared that she “felt cheated on.” She added, “I never thought my parents would get divorced. I was grieving and mourning.”
Despite the pain and challenges that George Lopez and Ann Serrano faced during and after their divorce, in recent years, it seems the family is turning over the page. Mayan posts frequently about their relationship on Instagram, and it looks like their bond as a family has remained intact, despite the negativity that surrounded their separation. In an Instagram video from April 2021, she posted footage from her father's birthday where her mother baked him a cake and the two embraced casually celebrating his birthday. The video had a text overlay saying, "My divorced parents still acting like they're married: Birthday Edition."
References:
https://people.com/celebrity/george-lopez-undergoes-kidney-transplant/
https://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/Health/story?id=752883&page=1
https://www.instagram.com/reel/COL2Rl1AcSj/?hl=en
Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Frazer Harrison
