SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - 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.”

Hotel Hookup?

Justin Timberlake just loves to keep the media guessing about his love life. Just when we thought his rumored romance with actress Jessica Biel was over practically before it began, a British tabloid reports catching the couple in an across-the-pond tryst.

According to the U.K.’s The Sun, the “Sexyback” singer and the Sexiest Woman Alive rendezvoused at Manchester, England’s Lowry Hotel after J.T.’s Saturday concert in the city. Justin allegedly snuck Jessica back to his room.

“There was lots of touching and kissing,” a hotel guest reportedly blabbed to the tab.

Your move, Scarlett!

Cam’s Magic Man

Meanwhile, Justin’s ex-girlfriend Cameron Diaz has likewise been doing pretty well for herself since their split. The latest guy linked to the “Charlie’s Angels” star is magician Criss Angel. After partying with her at Saturday’s VH1 Rock Honors in Las Vegas, the illusionist reportedly squired Cam on a romantic evening in Sin City on Monday.

According to People, the duo grabbed dinner at Prime steakhouse before attending a show together at the Mirage, where they arrived arm-in-arm.

During the performance, “they were snuggling with each other and he was making her laugh,” an onlooker told the magazine’s Web site. “They seemed really happy.”

Interestingly, Cameron was reportedly set to depart Vegas on Sunday, but opted to stay until Tuesday. Hmmm — sounds serious!

Paris: Trial Trauma

Poor, poor Paris Hilton. The stress of being convicted of driving with a suspended license and sentenced to 45 days in prison was apparently too much for her fragile, sensitive psyche. The celebutante’s “off-and-on” shrink has issued a statement saying she could not possibly cope with attending a trial Monday over an unrelated case, since she is “emotionally distraught and traumatized.”

The “Simple Life” star is being sued by fellow heirhead (and Paris Stavros ex) Zeta Graff for allegedly trash talking about her to the tabloids. According to Paris’ extremely creative psychologist, following her horrific legal ordeal, she is too shell shocked to be “capable of any meaningful participation” in the trial — and, in fact, another court appearance could “exacerbate her current mental condition.”

Obviously, this dire health crisis completely supersedes what Paris said recently about not being above the law.

Jaw-droppingly, the pity bid succeeded, and the trial has been rescheduled for Aug. 22.

Oh, please! If Paris could really be psychologically traumatized by one court appearance, shouldn’t Snoop Dogg be in a mental institution by now?

Stavros: Juggling Petra and Paris?

Is the Hollywood dating pool shallow or what? Fresh from a split with singer James Blunt, model Petra Nemcova was seen canoodling with Paris Hilton ex Stavros Niarchos, a source told the New York Post: “She was grinding him. It was pretty gross.” Yet Us reports Stav was by Paris’ side Saturday night. Hmmm.

Five Quick Takes

- Leonardo DiCaprio’s neighbors sued him, saying his basketball court weakened their poolside area.

- “Dancing With the Stars” couple Karina Smirnoff and Mario Lopez are living together, People says.

- Tuesday, Sylvester Stallone pleaded guilty to charges of bringing growth hormones into Australia.

- Brooke Shields hit NYC bar Hogs & Heifers on Saturday night, according to the Daily News.

- Howard K. Stern filed Anna Nicole Smith’s will Monday, waiving his right to compensation as executor.

Happy Birthday for May 16

» POD singer Sonny Sandoval is 33.

» Actress Tori Spelling (“Beverly Hills, 90210”) is 34.

» Jason “Wee Man” Acuña of “Jackass” is 34.

» Tennis playerGabriela Sabatini is 37.

» Actor David Boreanaz (“Bones”) is 38.

» Actress Tracey Gold (“Growing Pains”) is 38.

» Singer-actress Janet Jackson is 41.

» Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic is 42.

» Violinist Boyd Tinsley of the Dave Matthews Band is 43.

» Actor-comedian Kevin McDonald (“Kids in the Hall”) is 46.

» Actress Mare Winningham is 48.

» Actress Debra Winger is 52.

» Gymnast Olga Korbut is 52.

» Singer Richard Page of Mr. Mister is 54.

» Actor Pierce Brosnan is 54.

» Designer Christian Lacroix is 56.

» Actor Danny Trejo (“Grindhouse”) is 63.

Say What?

"I realized if you make a mistake, I think you ought to step up and admit that you did. I’m just that kind of a person. If you do something that you know you shouldn’t have, stand up and accept it.”

— “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” star Ty Pennington on his DUI arrest to “Entertainment Tonight”

Kitty Raymond is an entertainment writer who has a celebrity astrology blog at www.celebastroblogy.com.

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