George And Mayan Lopez's Real Father-Daughter Relationship Has Been Rocky

George Lopez and Mayan Lopez may get along on the set of "Lopez vs. Lopez," but it has taken a long time to get to that point. The father-daughter duo has had quite a rocky relationship, although it didn't start that way.

George and his ex-wife Ann Serrano welcomed Mayan just three years after getting married, per The US Sun. Mayan was the couple's only child, and from a young age, she had a lot of similarities to her comedic father. George told People, "Mayan was funny as a kid." In 2007, Mayan even guest starred in her father's comedy show, "George Lopez," per IMDb. Her guest appearance on the show had led her to bigger projects, including "Mr. Troop Mom" and "Handsome: A Netflix Mystery Movie." 

And although she credits her dad for the natural acting abilities she obtained, she doesn't deny that she had to work hard to get those abilities to the point of success. She told People, "I inherited wonderful gifts from my dad, but I had to train and hone them. The biggest life lesson he taught me was to try to be the best comedian I can be." Clearly, the two had a close relationship as Mayan grew up, but what changed? Well, George and Mayan's close relationship faltered after her father and mother separated.

George Lopez and Mayan Lopez's relationship started to get rocky when George separated from his ex-wife, Ann Serrano. According to TV Guide, the couple called it quits in 2017 after 17 years of marriage. A statement released shared, "George and Ann Lopez have made the decision to end their 17-year marriage. The decision is amicable and by mutual agreement. They remain dedicated parents, and committed partners in business and their philanthropic organization." What added salt to the wound was that Ann had donated one of her kidneys to her ex-husband, for their family and Mayan, just a couple of years before the split, per WebMD. And while they promised to be "dedicated parents" to Mayan, Ann seemed to take it more seriously than George.

Mayan was 14 years old at the time of the divorce, but she took it hard. George told "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," "I was divorced and then, you know, Mayan and I didn't talk for a long time." For years, the father-daughter duo missed out on holidays, birthdays, and other special occasions with each other. Mayan told People, "My character got to have Christmas with her family, and I got jealous because I hadn't had Christmas with my family since [parents George and Ann Serrano had] gotten divorced." However, as time passed, George and Mayan were able to get their relationship back to what it once was.

The pandemic brought families closer than ever before, including George Lopez and Mayan Lopez. The father-daughter duo had rarely spoken leading up to the pandemic, but when Covid-19 began to spread, they reconnected with one another, per Variety. George, who had a kidney transplant, was one of the many individuals more prone to contracting the disease. Because of this, Mayan and her mother made it a point to talk to George more.

The pandemic not only brought the Lopez family together, but it also helped spark George and Mayan's next adventure, "Lopez vs. Lopez," reports Variety. After sharing TikToks of her parents, it inspired the Lopezes to create their own show. The father-daughter duo's newest television series has only made their relationship stronger. Mayan vulnerably shared, "As I've grown older, I've learned to forgive him. Part of the show's theme is just coming to terms with the fact that your parents had a past too. They suffered trauma as well, and they really are doing their best." Still, even with the show the father-daughter duo still has to overcome bumps in the road.

For George, it's difficult having to go to a set where his ex-wife might show up. He told E! News, "With Mayan comes my ex-wife. The idea of taking your daughter to work is okay. But then, your ex-wife goes along for the ride, it's a little bit touchy." Still, George remains immensely proud of Mayan.