An amicable parting for Depp and Paradis

A Friendly Breakup

Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis are no longer together. The two have announced a parting of ways, but have been clear that they are ending it as friends.

Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis split

A representative for the couple broke the news to Entertainment Tonight saying: "Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis have amicably separated."

"Please respect their privacy and, more importantly, the privacy of their children."

In May of this year, Vanessa talked of the relationship with The Sydney Morning Herald: "I believe in love, and I want to believe that it lasts forever. But I'm like everyone else, you have to take things a day at a time and you can never know what comes next. All you can do is hope and love and live."

The pair, who met in Europe in 1998, have a residence in southern France. Johnny recently spoke with French publication VSD about the pleasure of his French life with Vanessa and their two children, saying it has "given me everything."

"A marvelous family and also an equilibrium which I missed enormously."

Speaking to the U.K. Marie Claire in 2010, Vanessa was more than complimentary of Johnny.

"I could make an endless list of all the things I admire about him," she said.

"We understand that, if we want our relationship to continue, we must give each other space, allow each other to go off on our own, and trust each other. Not everyone is lucky enough to be given space and trust."

The couple were always ambivalent about marriage.

"I love the romance of 'let's get married,' but then, when you have it so perfect ... I mean, I'm more married than anybody can be – we have two kids. Maybe one day, but it's something I can really do without," Vanessa once told Elle.

Hopefully the pair will take a page out of David Arquette and Courtney Cox’s book. The pair recently began the process of an offical divorce after a considerable period of separation. They have remained good friends, and are often seen in public together.

Image courtesy of Nikki Nelson/ WENN