Beyonce's cousin claims singer and Jay Z have had 'silent separations and splits'

Jay Z and Beyonce's marriage has come under scanner after the release of album LemonadeReuters

Beyonce Knowles and Jay Z have secretly split numerous times, it has been claimed. The Halo singer's cousin, Shanica Knowles has opened up about Beyonce's new album Lemonade and the couple's marriage.

In May 2014, a video of Solange Knowles physically attacking Jay Z emerged, after the Met Gala. Following the incident, there were speculations that the couple are planning to divorce. Adding on, there were rumours that Jay Z had affair with Rachel Roy and Rita Ora and are the "Becky with the good hair" women mentioned in Beyonce's song, Sorry.

"Beyonce has been encouraged to write about the affair rumours to help her deal with it all and help her determine whether she could work through everything or have to end the marriage," Shanica told Heat magazine.

"This has been a long process and I've heard they've had to deal with silent separations and splits over the past few years, but Bey is praying this album will actually save her marriage," she added.

Shanica continued: "She's been through the intense anger and I think she's now learning to forgive Jay. The next few months are going to be the test - this is make or break for them - but he's determined to do everything she can to make it work."

Meanwhile, Beyonce's father Mathew Knowles, responded to reports that the album is about his relationship with her mother, Tina Knowles. He told E! News: "Let me tell you who she's talking about, can I tell you who she's talking about? She's talking about you. You put that in context for you personally. She's talking about you and everybody that is you, that's who she's talking about."

"I think that's the beauty of her creativity and I think that's what makes it so special, is that it relates to everyone," he added. "Every one of us have been disappointed before and have had to go through the grieving process of anger and, you know, disappointment and then acceptance and forgiveness. And I think that's why this again is touching so many people, because it's universal. Everybody can relate to it."