Janet Jackson confirms split

The singer - who was first rumoured to have separated from the music executive in July - admitted she didn't keep in touch with any of her ex-lovers apart from Jermaine during a US radio interview.

Speaking on Atlanta's 'Bert Show', Janet said: "I'm not the type of girl that stays in touch with your ex like that. But Jermaine is one of my best friends. I love him to death. We're still connected. We're still good friends. We still talk."

Janet, 43, was reported to have ended her seven-year relationship with Jermaine, 37, in the summer in the wake of her pop superstar brother Michael's shock death in June. Advertisement

At the time, it was claimed the 'All For You' singer decided to call time on the romance because she felt suffocated by her lover.

A mutual friend of the pair said: "You shouldn't mix business with pleasure. Janet felt their lives were too crossed and they should have kept things separate."

Another source said: "They've been moving in different directions for a while now."

Jermaine produced several tracks on the 43-year-old star's last two albums - '20 Y.O.', released in 2006, and 2008's 'Discipline' - and she felt he was becoming too involved in all aspects of her life.