Richards blames press for Sambora split

Denise Richards has blamed the media for her split with ex Richie Sambora.

The couple became an item in 2006, shortly after Sambora filed for divorce from the actress's close pal Heather Locklear.

Richards said press reports suggesting that she had come between the couple and betrayed her friend were wide of the mark.

She told US chatshow host Larry King: "[Sambora and Locklear] were getting divorced; he and I were friends and it happened. And she had moved on. She was already involved with someone else at the time.

"[The press coverage] affected, I think, the circumstances. It was very difficult to sustain a relationship. We were so slammed in the press. We were dealing with our parents dying. We were going through very difficult divorces and custody and it put a strain on our relationship."

She added: "I regret the timing, perhaps, and I feel terrible for anyone that was hurt and involved. But I did not split up their marriage."

Richards split from the Bon Jovi guitarist in March 2007 after a year. She was previously married to actor Charlie Sheen.