'Puffy,' J. Lo. Split: Publicist

By Stephen M. Silverman

05/19/1998 at 12:00 AM EDT

After weeks of speculation and denials, Sean "Puffy" Combs and Jennifer Lopez have officially split, announced, ironically enough, on Valentine's Day by his publicist, Nathalie Moar. "Mr. Combs confirmed that he and his love, Jennifer Lopez, have in fact broken up," Moar said in a statement. "Mr. Combs is confirming this today as he wanted to put all the rumors surrounding their relationship to rest. At this difficult time we ask that you respect his privacy." Contacted by the Associated Press, a spokesman for Lopez, Alan Nierob, said that he could not reach the actress-singer, who is in Australia promoting her album, "J.Lo." While Lopez, 30, is Down Under, Combs, 31, is on trial in New York for weapons possession and bribery charges stemming from a December 1999 nightclub shooting in Times Square. Testimony in the case was due to have resumed on Wednesday.