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George Clooney and Italian girlfriend Elisabetta Canalis, who have been dating since 2009, today announced their split in a joint statement to ET.

"We are not together anymore," the couple said. "It's very difficult and very personal and we hope everyone can respect our privacy."

The couple's relationship had been dogged by break up rumors for over a year now.

Clooney, 50, and Canalis, 41, were first pictured together during summer 2009, and made their first public appearance together at the Venice Film Festival that year in September.

Clooney was spotted sailing on a yacht on Lake Como Italy over the weekend with director Ben Weiss and other male friends.

He was on a break from filming for Gravity in London.