Simon Cowell's publicist has confirmed the "American Idol" judge and his longtime girlfriend, former model and British television presenter Terri Seymour, broke up.

ADVERTISEMENT
Cowell, 48, and Seymour, 34, first met 16 years ago and have been dating since 2002.

The breakup was first reported by the Daily Mirror and was confirmed to People magazine by Cowell's representative.

"Terri phoned Simon and finished it in September, about six weeks ago," Cowell's publicist Max Clifford said. "They are going to remain close friends. Simon thinks the world of Terri and that isn't going to change. He also understands her reason for ending it. ... In the past, Terri has said that she wants kids, but that just isn't Simon. Nobody else is involved, certainly not on Simon's side."