Elizabeth Gutiérrez confirms her breakup with William Levy in a candid and emotional interview: ‘We’re not together’

I am at peace. I am definitely resuming my career; it is my passion. And well, I started with the ‘Vagina Monologues’, which was just a weekend to warm up engines and waiting and looking for new opportunities.

There have always been opportunities; it’s just that I wasn’t at the right moment to seize those opportunities. And although I don’t have anything concrete, I know things will come. Right now, I’m a guest on ‘Despierta América’ doing things and getting back on track. And that, I understand, takes time, it’s not overnight like saying: Okay.

Yes, my priority has always been my family and being there for them, for everyone in my family. But I feel that at this moment, it’s necessary for them to also see me as that professional woman. And they support me 100%. It’s not like I’m going to work and neglect them because that will never happen. I’ll always be present, whether I’m working or not, like all mothers do. I’m not the only one. I feel that since Christopher has already turned 18, and I know he’s a grown-up, everything will be fine, but he’s still my baby and always will be. So, I’ll always be there for him.

Yes, he’s protective, and my daughter is too, for both of them. Kailey is more jealous than Christopher. She does look at people who look at me or say something to them, and I’m like, ‘Kailey, behave yourself!’ And she says, ‘No, I don’t care, what are they looking at?’ Christopher went through that stage, but I think they know the mother they have, so I command respect and that’s why I don’t see it as jealousy. Obviously, they will be jealous, but they know who I am.

I see a woman who... [bursts into tears] I see a woman who fights, who faces, who protects her family. Sorry...[tears falling from her eyes] a woman who loves, but she’s an incredible woman. I also see that strong woman, that woman who loves herself, who knows what she wants and what she doesn’t want.

I always bet on my relationship. I loved William, I think it’s no secret that he was the love of my life. As I always bet and wanted to show us as we were. I wanted... because we lived many of those moments during the 20 years we were together.

Currently, we are not together. On my part, it was never for lack of love; I think I’m not the same girl I was 20 years ago when he met me. What we want at this moment is different. I will always love him, I will always wish him the best, and as I have always said, being with me or not, I want to see him happy. That’s what I fell in love with, his smile... I always want to see him smiling. I don’t know; there are things that, if they don’t change, you have to change. And that was the option I had to take.

I’m not the one who decides... I’m letting God write my story as I’ve always done, allowing Him to write my story. I really feel, at this moment, that I’m in the middle of the ocean, and I’m surviving.

A couple of months.

My children are at peace because William is an excellent father, and the love from both of us is not lacking, so they are fine and will be fine. Obviously, it wasn’t ideal for either of us, but things happen, and you have to move on. You have to show that even if you feel defeated in some way, you have to keep your head held high and move forward.

Absolutely...

I really don’t want to... I prefer not to go into details of how we’re handling it, what happened. I really think that part is only up to us.

You know why? My decisions were never based on superficial reasons. My decision was based on what I know, what we both know, and it wasn’t when people wanted me to make a decision or not make it, or I never let anyone influence me, not even my family. I mean, my family never told me to make a decision or not make one. Everyone was betting on our family. My decisions are my own. I make them, I know when, and that’s why maybe they see me at peace, happy, because I know I couldn’t give more, I gave everything.

No pudo haber algo que no hiciera, hice de todo.

No, jamás voy a... una relación es de dos, obviamente, y estoy segura que él también tiene su historia y es respetable. Simplemente, estoy contando desde mi punto de vista lo que yo siento, lo que siento que yo di. O sea, a lo mejor él te puede decir: ‘Hubiera podido dar más, hubiera podido ser más cariñosa, hubiera podido prestarme más atención’; pero, en mi persona, yo di todo lo que pude dar.

Creo que una relación es basada en amor y respeto. Y cuando una de las dos falla, entonces ahí es que estamos mal.

Como te dije, cuando tú das todo de ti... Y de verdad creo que vamos por caminos diferentes, que no hablamos el mismo lenguaje, tal vez. O sea, son muchas cosas.

Trataba de enfocarme en lo que yo tenía en casa. Trataba de que no me afectara nada de lo que se decía, hasta que yo no puedo culpar a alguien sin haberlo visto o haberlo vivido. Entonces, la prensa muchas veces inventa cosas. Yo sé lo que fue verdad, lo que no fue verdad, porque solo yo sé lo que yo viví. Nadie me lo tiene que contar. Entonces, nunca le presté atención a lo que la prensa decía. Como te dije, mis decisiones siempre han sido basadas en lo que yo he vivido, no en lo que los demás digan de él ni de mí.

Sí, fue muy lindo. Y creo que los dos tratábamos, los dos luchamos por nuestra familia y por nuestra relación. Los dos dimos lo mejor que pudimos en nuestra relación. Estoy segura que él también dio lo mejor de sí. Y es una excelente persona y un tipo con un corazón enorme que siempre nos dio lo mejor como familia, como proveedor. Pero creo que había muchas heridas que no se habían sanado.

No voy a hablar de mis cosas que yo siento... Y a lo mejor ambos... Me imagino que en algún momento yo lo herí también. Estoy segura que de alguna forma lo herí.

No quiero hablar de ciertas cosas, de verdad. O sea, mi intención con esta entrevista no fue ni contar mi historia, ni expresar lo que está pasando, ni mucho menos. Simplemente, quise ser honesta con la gente que nos quiere, que nos sigue y decir mi situación de relación actual con él. Pero no voy a entrar jamás en detalles de nuestra relación.

Como te dije, me quedo con el William que amo, que respeto... es el padre de mis hijos y siempre le voy a desear lo mejor.

¡Claro! Definitivamente retomar mi carrera, pero creo que en este momento mi prioridad, como siempre, es que mis hijos estén bien, yo también estar bien emocionalmente, mentalmente. O sea, sí, cuidarme de adentro para afuera, para poder ser esa madre que siempre he sido para mis hijos, presente, y darle lo mejor a ellos también. Eso es definitivamente mi prioridad ahorita, cuidar de nosotros.

¡Wow! No sé, todavía creo que estoy aprendiendo cuál.

Creo que lo más importante es que entiendan que cuando estás en pareja, tú no eres dueño de esa persona. Tú eres su cómplice, su compañero, pero no eres dueño de esa persona, lo tienes que dejar ser una persona individual y se complementa. El amor y el respeto van de la mano. Creo que eso es lo más importante que le he inculcado a los dos, que se respeten tanto ellos como también a sus parejas, que les den el lugar, que no tengan miedo a decir lo que sienten, ser honestos, creo que ser transparentes con eso y cuidarse mutuamente.

Yes, but I delete it right away [laughs].

Look, I’m clear that social media is not a diary to write your emotions there... I’m very clear, but I’m also human and sometimes react without thinking. Then, yes, of course, I say, ‘Why did I do that?’ I forget what position I am in, and I say: ‘No, you can’t, it’s not me’. I have people who are watching and observing every move I make, so I have to hold back a bit and not give those people something to talk about more than they already have. So, I’ve regretted things, definitely.

No, I still think I haven’t even thought about that, not at all. Right now, as I tell you, it’s about fixing my life, my children’s lives, my whole environment and then let life surprise me. I like being in love, I like being in a couple, that’s my state of happiness. Imagine, I was with him for 20 years, so that’s all I know. So no... right now, I’m definitely focused on my career and my children.

I’m ready to get to know myself more than I already do, to walk, move forward, to see what destiny holds for me, to see what God has for me. I’m a woman of faith, so I’m testing my faith, definitely. I’m with God right now in this decision, and it wasn’t an easy decision at all. But as I said, God is the one writing my story. If you ask me today, I’ll tell you no, that I wouldn’t go back. But I’m not the one who decides.

I’m finding the woman I always was, the girl with dreams... [breaks into tears] The girl who got lost. And it’s not bad, because my reason was love.

I’ve always tried to be transparent with everyone. I’ve always tried to be... And well, you’ve known me for several years now, and I haven’t changed. I’m still the same woman, and when I have nothing to say or don’t want to talk about a certain topic, I better not say anything. It’s very hard for me to sit here. And it’s not because... and you know how private I am too. I’m very private about these things, but before someone else decides for me and shares my life story, I prefer to be the one to sit and let them hear it from my mouth, what I feel, what I... Sorry [breaks into tears].

For me it’s not like, ‘Oh, I’m going to go out and tell my story, it’s a liberation, all women, girl power’... Not at all, this is so important and so delicate for me that I’m not seeing it that way, I’m just being what I’ve always been, transparent and that’s it. It’s not a way to free myself and release the chains and... Ah! I’m another Ely, I’m new... No, no, no, because this means much more to me than being that image. If I can inspire other women, then I feel honored. If I can help someone, it’s good that I can help, but always from the point of sincerity, which I’ve always tried to be like that.

Many people, many friendships... my family, definitely, my friends here in Miami, people who I didn’t even expect to support me, who are supporting me. Truly, God is great and has taught me that support through people, definitely.

That’s the most important thing, being able to sleep at night and know that I’m at peace and that my children are well. Even William, that he’s also at peace and in a good space. That’s what I wish for all of us.