Denise Richards and Richie Sambora split

Just last week, OK! magazine released an interview with Denise Richards in which the actress spoke about the "strong connection" she shares with Bon Jovi guitarist, Richie Sambora. But the connection must not have been enough. In Touch Weekly is reporting that Denise and Richie split up months ago - long before the OK! interview hot newsstands.

A friend of Denise's told In Touch, "Denise and Richie broke up two months ago. They didn't want to make it public because they lived through public divorces and it was very painful." The pair ended their relationship amicably and have stayed friends. The insider says that Denise even flew out to see Richie last month when his father died. "She took the next flight - a red eye - to be with him. She stayed with him in New Jersey for two weeks for the wake and the funeral," said the snitch.

In her OK! interview, Denise said of her decision to date Richie - who had just separated from Denise's friend Heather Locklear at the time, "Quite frankly we [Richie and I] couldn't help it. The attraction was there and we have such a strong connection." The couple dated for about a year. Last Thursday Denise told In Touch, "I take my life one day at a time. I'm in a really happy place."