Rep: Diddy & Cassie Ventura Not Engaged

By Sharon Cotliar and Tiffany McGee

07/25/2008 at 09:10 AM EDT

Sean "Diddy" Combs is not engaged to singer Cassandra "Cassie" Ventura, despite some published reports to the contrary, a representative for the music mogul tells PEOPLE.

"Contrary to tabloid reports, there is no engagement. This was a complete fabrication," states Combs's rep.

Combs, 38, signed the singer, now 21, to his label Bad Boy Records, which released her debut album Cassie in 2006.

Still, as Ventura told PEOPLE July 9 at DJ Cassidy's birthday party in Manhattan: "We are not together, but we are definitely friends."

She also said, "We work hard together, so it makes a good combo."