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.)