Janet Jackson, Jermaine Dupri 'split up'

Janet Jackson has split up from her boyfriend Jermaine Dupri, it has been reported.

The celebrity couple dated for almost seven years, though have been "moving in different directions" of late, Us Weekly reports.

The 36-year-old music producer, who has produced tracks on Jackson's last two albums, was not present at her brother Michael's recent memorial service.

"His friends are telling people it's over," one source said, while another added: "They have been moving in different directions for a while."

It is understood that the reason behind their break-up was due to their working relationship impeding on the romance.

"You shouldn't mix business with pleasure," the insider explained. "Janet felt their lives were too crossed and they should have kept things separate."

The death of her sibling has also been cited as a possible cause for the split. "She's devastated. She's busy caring for Michael's kids. Janet's the family's backbone," they added.

It was recently reported that the King Of Pop wanted his Janet to be the caretaker of his three children, Prince Michael, 12, Paris Katherine, 11, and 7-year-old Blanket.