NEW YORK -- Another day, another divorce story about Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey. Magazine reports prompted representatives for the pop star couple to issue statements Wednesday denying they have split — although semantically speaking, the statements left room for a future breakup.

"Nick and Jessica have not separated," said a statement issued on behalf of Simpson and Lachey. "Rumors to the contrary are simply not true."

In an e-mail to The Associated Press, Simpson representative Brad Cafarelli reiterated: "They have not separated."

Us Weekly magazine, without naming sources, broke a story Wednesday that said Simpson and Lachey separated over the weekend.

Alex Dudley, a spokesman for Us Weekly, said the magazine was standing by its story. The latest issue, on newsstands Friday, proclaims "Split!" on the cover.

For the past year, rumors have dogged Lachey and Simpson, who will celebrate their third anniversary Oct. 26. Magazines have run pictures of Simpson with or without her wedding ring.

Lachey, 31, and Simpson, 25, had the trials and tribulations of their marriage chronicled on MTV's "Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica."

As recently as August, Lachey denied any impending split, saying everything was "absolutely wonderful."