SamboraBlog

They said it wouldn’t last … and it didn’t. Denise Richards and Richie Sambora — who caused a scandal when they hooked up due to Denise’s one-time friendship with Richie’s ex Heather Locklear — have ended their controversial relationship. Denise’s rep has confirmed that after dating for about a year, they split quietly two months ago.

Why the delayed announcement? A friend of the “Wild Things” star explained to In Touch that “they didn’t want to make it public because they lived through public divorces and it was very painful.” (Insert ironic remark here.)

Another reason the former couple maintained a united front recently: Denise, whose mother is battling cancer, wanted to support the Bon Jovi rocker after his father died of the disease in April. The Denise insider recalls that when the actress got the news, “she took the next flight — a red-eye — to be with [Richie]. She stayed with him in New Jersey for two weeks for the wake and the funeral.”

A Richie friend confirms to People, “They did break up about a month prior to Richie’s dad’s death. She came to the funeral to support him. He needs to focus on his daughter Ava and wishes Denise and her kids all the best.”