The newly single Julia Roberts appeared on David Letterman‘s Late Show Tuesday night and proclaimed that her relationship with actor Benjamin Bratt came “to a kind and tenderhearted end,” The Associated Press reports.
“My only regret is that the media can’t accept that it’s tenderhearted and kind,” she said.
The Academy Award-winning actress, speaking publicly for the first time on the relationship’s end, had only fond things to say about her ex-beau of four years.
“OK, here’s the thing: I love Benjamin. He’s a good man, he’s a fine man. He is, to the exultation of the female single population, not my man anymore,” she said.
Roberts, 33, did not give even a hint as to why the couple went their separate ways, but explained their parting was “not ugly; not because of anyone else.”
The star of Erin Brockovich and Pretty Woman went on to deny rumors of a liaison with former ER hunk George Clooney, proclaiming him “a kind and lovely man, but not my boyfriend.”
As Roberts appeared on screen, Letterman sidekick Paul Shaffer assaulted her with the question, “You getting laid these days?”
Roberts‘ immediate response was to hide behind Letterman and scold the bald bandleader, “Bad, bad Paul,” People magazine reports.
Roberts ultimately closed her segment with: “And to answer Paul: No.”
