This is how relationships end these days. A court battle over frozen embryos. Consider it a modern update to the Michael Douglas classic “War of the Roses,” except this time it involves the unborn children of a Colombian sitcom star and her very distraught former fiancé.

CNN discusses the case in greater detail, mentioning an op-ed piece, published by The New York Times in which Nick Loeb, Vergara’s former fiancé and his stance to “keep the two female embryos he shares with the actress.”

In the interview, Loeb speaks out, saying: “I wanted to keep this private, but recently the story broke to the world.” He speculates that the media blitz has occurred mostly due to his former fiancées immense popularity due to the ABC series on which she is a star. “Modern Family” is beloved by audiences of all demographics and it is a wildly popular show with critics and fans, alike, so it’s no wonder that such an unusual case between two high profile individuals would garner media attention; however, Loeb’s plea for privacy should not go unnoticed.

More than the celebrity of Vergara, the case has attracted attention from the media due to the controversial nature of “embryonic custody disputes.” The issue raises “important questions about life, religion and parenthood.”

The couple, who met in 2010 and became engaged two years later, mutually decided to create the embryos and conceive a child via a surrogate, once the couple was ready. Now that the relationship has dissolved, the fate of the unborn children rests in the hands of the courts, and in the efforts of ex-fiancé Loeb. While it’s an idea to by cynical regarding matters where large amounts of money are potentially involved, it does come into consideration the delicacy of the efforts to protect human life. Such questions have been raised as a result of this case coming into public attention.

“Loeb said that he filed a complaint against the 42-year-old actress to prevent her from destroying their two embryos conceived through in vitro fertilization. He filed it in August in Santa Monica, California, where they apparently lived while they dated.”

Now that the actress is reportedly engaged to actor Joe Manganiello, the efforts to bring the children to term are up in the air.

According to California law, the form did not specify what would happen if they separated. Loeb said, “I’m asking to have it voided.”