This truly is a brave new world we're living in, where technological breakthroughs like MySpace allow celebrities to communicate directly with the unwashed masses to address any rumors about the genital-genital contact they may or may not be having with other members of their C-list caste, without the messy, and often cost-prohibitive, involvement of fancy publicists. Late last night, dust-broom doppleganger Nicole Richie offered this clarification about yesterday's "break-up" with semi-recognizable publicity partner Brody Jenner, who was transparently trying to climb her exposed ribcage like a ladder to a slightly higher level of tabloid fame. Clarifies Richie:

Relationship? I know there are rumors regarding my "breakup" with Brody Jenner. The truth is, we were never really together. We hung out, and he's a nice guy, but my heart was never in it. Anything further is just a cry for publicity.

We have no idea what enthralling twist Richie's love life will offer next, but she seems to be handling the emotional devastation of separating from a Prince of Malibu star in stride; this dispatch should provide comfort to any member of Richie's Pro-Ana MySpace group who was afraid that her rebounding idol might do something rash to deal with the potential heartache, like throw herself into the opportunistic arms of the first cheeseburger trying to get its photo in InTouch.

• Relationship? [Nicole Richie's MySpace Blog]
• Previously: Brave Hamburger Makes Ultimate Sacrifice In Nicole Richie's Image Rehabilitation Campaign [Defamer]

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