Marc Anthony: I will always love Jennifer

Marc Anthony shot down rumors Thursday that secret affairs with other women broke apart his seven-year marriage to Jennifer Lopez earlier this year.

In his first interview since the July announcement of the couple's split, Anthony told ABC's "Nightline" that the divorce was amicable.

"It wasn't some sensationalistic happening," he said, denying infidelity played any part. "It was a realization on both our parts, you know, tt wasn't shocking ... These things happen."

On whether he wanted the separation, he said: "It was a decision that we made jointly."

Rumors broke last week that a love affair between him and the wife of Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, broke apart the marriage.

But Anthony, 42, called such speculation about celebrities "almost like a sport."

"I will always love Jennifer, she knows that and my kids know that," he said, calling Lopez a "wonderful" woman, mother and friend.

The marriage was the third for Lopez, 42, and produced twins Emme and Max in 2008. The two were married months after Lopez's engagement to Ben Affleck ended, and days after Anthony's divorce from former Miss Puerto Rico Dayanara Torres was finalized.

(with Reuters)