It's over! Kermit The Frog and Miss Piggy announce they have SPLIT... week before season premiere of new Muppets sitcom

Published: 16:04 EST, 4 August 2015 | Updated: 17:35 EST, 4 August 2015

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Interspecies, inanimate and in love – that's how the world knew Muppet co-stars Kermit The Frog and Miss Piggy since the sketch comedy variety show of the 1970s.

But after decades of romance (at least, that's what it was in Miss Piggy's mind), the puppet couple has decided to call it quits.

In a joint statement Tuesday, the former lovers confirmed: 'After careful thought, thoughtful consideration and considerable squabbling, Miss Piggy made the difficult decision to terminate our romantic relationship.'

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Split: Kermit The Frog and Miss Piggy have officially broken up as announced in a joint statement on Tuesday

Business as usual: Despite ending the romance, the Muppet ex-lovers decided to continue working together

News of the shocking split comes just weeks before the debut of the new Muppets sitcom.

The show, which takes on a mockumentary style similar to The Office, features Piggy as a talk show host and Kermit as the show's behind-the-scenes executive producer.

But the ex-lovers are convinced that their forgone romance will not impact their working relationship.

'We will continue to work together on television ('The Muppets'/Tuesdays 8pm this fall on ABC) and in all media now known or hereafter devised, in perpetuity, throughout the universe,' the statement continued.

'However, our personal lives are now distinct and separate, and we will be seeing other people, pigs, frogs, et al.'

The Muppets prime time television show official trailer

New show: Also on Tuesday, Kermit and Piggy were spotted in their first public appearance together since the split as they were joined by The Muppets showrunner Bob Kushell at the Beverly Hills Hilton

In addition to Tuesday's statement via Twitter, the now strictly-business partners appeared together for a panel at The Beverly Hills Hilton during the Television Critics Association's summer press tour.

Despite maintaining their composure in the public statement, the true emotions of the stars surfaced while onstage, with Kermit admitting, 'It can be tough to work with your ex … Especially when your ex is a pig.'

US Weekly reports that Miss Piggy arrived characteristically late and stated, 'Dating moi is like flying close to the sun. It was inevitable that Kermit would drop down to the ground while I stayed in the heavens.'

Typical: In classic form, Miss Piggy arrived late and said, 'Dating moi is like flying close to the sun'

While The Muppet Show of the 1970s satirized popular variety shows of the time (The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, The Dean Martin Show, etc.), the forthcoming production from The Muppets will parody today's prevalent late night talk shows like Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel.

But with the mockumentary format, the show will delve into the personal lives of the Muppets (and people) who are creating the fake show.

In May, showrunner Bill Prady told Vulture.com: 'What we really want to do is tell people stories. We want to talk about what it's like to be at work with somebody where the situation is a little rough. We want to tell relationship stories.'

The Muppets will premiere on September 22 on ABC.

Decades later: For almost 50 years Kermit and Piggy have been romantically involved only to call it quits on Tuesday. Here, the former couple shares a loving moment at the Germany photo call for their 2014 film Muppets Most Wanted