90 Day Fiance star Juliana Custodio de Sousa claims Michael Jessen is lying about why they are divorcing and she was supporting him financially and "felt like a maid" before the couple's split.
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RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
Juliana -- who appeared on Season 7 of 90 Day Fiance with Michael -- posted a photo of herself in Hamburg, Germany with a rainbow in the background and captioned it, "After the storm comes a rainbow."
Juliana also shared a slideshow of images featuring her lengthy statement, which began with, "Happy 2 year anniversary and the couple of years together, Michael. As you well said, only our second anniversary and our last."
Touching on the cause of their split, Juliana wrote to Michael, "You pointed [out] the COVID-19 as one of the reasons we are [no] longer together, but we all know that there are more than that."
"I am grateful for all the lessons and the moments we got to spend together and the beautiful memories with your family. As [you well] pointed out, we went through a lot together, the Covid was a hard time but the hardest part for me was to picture you as someone that would be by my side, and unfortunately, you showed something completely different."
Juliana insisted she did everything to keep Michael's family afloat during the coronavirus pandemic.
As shown on a May 2020 episode of 90 Day Fiance: Self-Quarantined on TLC, Michael and Juliana began quarantining in March 2020 with Michael's ex-wife Sarah and her new husband Sean as well as Michael and Sarah's son Maxwell and daughter Cece.
Sarah had just been diagnosed with a rare form of breast cancer in February 2020, and so the blended family decided to support one another -- although the living situation was a little hectic and became overwhelming at times, especially for Juliana, who confessed she was "frustrated" about having to stay home.
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"As everyone, we went through a hard time financially, but it was not a problem for me to help you, the kids, ex wife and her husband financially because I was the only one working at the time, but we all know how the situation wears out," Juliana claimed.
"I wasn't part of the family anymore, I was feeling like a maid. It was toxic to a point. I was not living the life I wanted to live."
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOWJuliana, who moved to the United States in Summer 2019 and married Michael in October of that year, apparently lost sight of her own wants and needs in the relationship.
"I needed to leave because I wasn't recognizing who I am anymore. I left my life in Europe and career to live with you, because I loved you. But I love myself more, to the point to recognize I am important, and I want to be happy," Juliana explained.
When Michael announced the couple is divorcing, he claimed that Juliana "quickly moved on with someone new," suggesting she's already dating a new guy.
But Juliana responded, "You say I have found 'someone new,' but the truth is, I found happiness within myself. I am happy with the new phase, and I ask you to let me go."
"Stop making me feel guilty to put myself as the most important person because this is how we [are] supposed to do [things]," she continued in her statement.
"I apologize for the way this happened, but we talked multiple times about it and you never seemed to listen or try to understand me."
Juliana went on to address her followers and fans and give them some relationship advice.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: BEFORE THE 90 DAYS' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
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"You are the only person that [knows] what you've been through. Everyone deserves respect, protection, understanding, love and kindness. Your value doesn't decrease based on someone's inability to see your worth."
Juliana insisted that someone who values you would never put themselves "in a position to lose you."
"No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path. Don't be afraid to start over. It's a brand new opportunity to rebuild what you truly want," Juliana said.
"Accept what is, let go of what was, and have faith in what will be! I wish you all the best, MJ. Peace and happiness to everyone."
Michael, a Connecticut native, wrote in his statement earlier in the day that his marriage was a "COVID-19 casualty."
Michael described Juliana as resilient, self-reliant, joyful and positive, before saying, "I understand how our situation throughout the pandemic could slowly, and eventually completely, drain you of these qualities."
He added, "All of us were completely drained by the end of it and I did not maintain the strength of mind and the fortitude to be the husband that you wanted me to be."
But Michael claimed he felt "stress" and "pressure" to provide for his family during the crisis, which allegedly resulted in him not taking care of himself or acknowledging how Juliana had been there for him.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: HAPPILY EVER AFTER?' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
"I do not blame you for wanting to leave and for desiring a new start. You are more suited for the life that you had before we met and I can understand why you would want to return," Michael wrote on Instagram.
He continued, "My love for you remains true and will always be there for you. I am happy that you have moved on and have quickly found someone new... I hope that you will have lasting love and happiness and achieve every dream that you set out upon."
Michael said he'll always root for Juliana and cherish the wonderful memories they had created together.
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When an Instagram user asked if it's true Juliana had cheated on him, Michael replied, "I hope not!"
And another follower asked Michael, "Did you divorce or not?"
Michael firmly replied, "No."
When a person yelled at Michael's followers saying a marriage is private and Michael and Juliana should be left alone, Michael responded, "It's okay... I'll answer questions I want to... Ignore those I don't... [I'll] more likely offer vague and possibly misleading answers in order to continue the intrigue."
Juliana had alluded to a breakup with Michael in a series of September TikTok videos. Michael and the kids did not appear in any of her videos, and she complained about doing all the grocery shopping.
Juliana was previously married once before. She said on a 90 Day Fiance episode she felt pressured to enter an arranged marriage at age 19 and the union only lasted for one year.
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Michael had been married to Sarah for 20 years prior to Sarah officiating his wedding with Juliana. Sarah tied the knot with Sean, an aspiring hip-hop artist, in November 2019.
Juliana and Sarah ultimately became very close friends and got along well, and they made sure Michael's children were being raised in a loving environment with no hostility or resentment.
During an April 2020 broadcast of Tamron Hall, Tamron videochatted with Michael, Juliana, Sarah and Sean, while they were all quarantining under one roof in Greenwich, CT.
Sarah said she and her husband were planning a move to Los Angeles, CA, soon, and Michael was happy about his entire family being together, despite the group having little altercations here or there.
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"Juliana is just on the cusp of getting modeling jobs. She signed with a really great agency in New York City, and then suddenly, this happens and it's frustrating for her," Michael said.
But Juliana and Michael agreed their marriage hadn't crumbled under the stress of quarantining because Juliana was being "very patient."
When asked to share the most difficult part of self-isolating together, Juliana joked, "Him having to see my face every day."
"I love that!" Michael responded with a laugh, before Juliana admitted the hardest part was having to do all the housework solo.
Michael appeared in distress based on Juliana's comment, so she kissed him on the cheek and assured him, "I love you. It's okay! I know you do everything, like pay the bills."
There seemed to be no trouble in Paradise at the time, as Juliana also shared how she didn't miss her old life in Brazil.
"To be honest, not really, because I always wanted to work to have a family in the future," Juliana told Tamron. "And now I have a family, so it's my dream come true."
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
