DeGeneres and
Hedison issue statement on their split

Ellen DeGeneres has broken her silence about her split with Alexandra Hedison, her partner of almost four years, by issuing a statement exclusively to Advocate.com. Concerned that her year-end cover story with The Advocate, illustrated with photographs by Hedison, will be hitting newsstands after news of their break-up, DeGeneres said she regrets that readers will be confused by the timing of this intimate portrait of a relationship that has suddenly ended. Hedison is also quoted in the statement, which was provided to The Advocate by DeGeneres's representatives. The comments are in response to the magazine's having asked whether the women's relationship may have been in trouble during the production of the cover story. Both DeGeneres and Hedison said that the timing of the magazine's publication was unfortunate but that the split was unforeseen. "The one thing I regret about this cover story is that it will be confusing for people to read and not understand what is going on," DeGeneres said. "My life was documented by Alex for The Advocate. That was the first time we had done anything like this. Who knew that the publication and timing of it would prove to be bittersweet?" Hedison added, "I would never have done this story if I had thought we would not be together today." DeGeneres reaffirmed her love for Hedison, expressed in The Advocate's interview, which was conducted November 14. "When I said 'I love Alex, and I'm happier than I've ever been,' all those things were true, and I still love her and care tremendously for her," DeGeneres said. "We are working together on the ending of our relationship on that level and intend to keep it private. And it's important to add that we have every intention of being in each other's lives." Hedison expressed her love for DeGeneres as well. "Even though this is a difficult time, I love her and will always want what's best for her," she said. The two women remain mutually supportive, DeGeneres said. "Life is full of surprises, and no one knows what tomorrow brings. This is not easy, but we are really working on handling this in a healthy, private way. And it should go without saying that we continue to respect and honor one another. We both supported and helped each other through some very hard times, and that support is still there."