Elon Musk, Amber Heard Address Relationship And Breakup

The high-profile celebrity relationship between Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and actress Amber Heard was the center of speculation yet again Friday after the couple released a joint statement in an apparent response to rumors surrounding their breakup. In it, the two called their coupledom a “normal relationship with a giant magnifying glass applied.”

“Having read recent articles about our relationship, we would like to speak for ourselves,” the couple said in a joint statement to People published Friday. “The distance has been really tough on our relationship, because we haven’t been able to see each other much. All relationships have their ups and downs, of course.”

Read: Amber Heard, Elon Musk Remain Friends After Split; Is Reconciliation Possible?

The couple rebuked “speculation, which has no basis in fact, without our knowledge, believing that that they have our best interests in mind,” but went on to say they had “the utmost respect for one another” and added that “it would be troubling if anyone had the impression that we thought otherwise.”

“As a closing note, it is worth bearing in mind that events are always amplified and dramatized in a high profile relationship, whether the people involved like it or not (and we definitely don’t),” they said. “The reality is that this is just a normal relationship with a giant magnifying glass applied.”

An unnamed source close to People told the magazine Monday that the couple had split as a result of busy schedules as the reason for their breakup.

“Elon’s is working day and night,” the source told People. “This is his life and he loves it. He is in no position to be in a relationship right now and ended it.”

Read: Elon Musk Says 2015 Biography ‘Mostly Correct,’ But Contests Assistant Firing Anecdote

Musk, 46, confirmed the breakup earlier this week in a comment on Instagram. The comment on a post by 31-year-old Heard was a followup to a previous comment that confused some fans about the status of their romance, as Musk had first written “V cute” and included a heart emoji.

“Btw, just to clear up some of the press storm this weekend,” Musk said. “Although Amber and I did break up, we are still friends, remain close and love one another. Long distance relationship when both partners have intense work obligations are always difficult, but who knows what the future holds.”

Heard later addressed the split herself Tuesday in a separate Instagram post.

“Being in the public eye means having to explain yourself to so many people, so much of the time,” she said. “In this case, I’d like to remain more quiet. Although we have broken up, Elon and I care deeply for one another and remain close. Thank you for the continued support, respect, and privacy during these difficult, very human times.”