Demi Moore to divorce Ashton Kutcher

Following weeks of speculation about the state of her marriage, film star Demi Moore announced Thursday that she and her actor husband, Ashton Kutcher, are separating.

"It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I have decided to end my six-year marriage to Ashton," Moore, 49, said in a statement to The Associated Press. "As a woman, a mother and a wife there are certain values and vows that I hold sacred, and it is in this spirit that I have chosen to move forward with my life. This is a trying time for me and my family, and so I would ask for the same compassion and privacy that you would give to anyone going through a similar situation."

A representative for Kutcher did not respond to Newsday's request for comment. Shortly after his wife's announcement, the "Two and a Half Men" star tweeted, "I will forever cherish the time I spent with Demi. Marriage is one of the most difficult things in the world and unfortunately sometimes they fail. Love and Light, AK."

As recently as this past weekend, said Us Weekly, the couple had retreated together to the Turks and Caicos vacation home of Moore's ex-husband, actor Bruce Willis, who has remained a friend.

Texas administrative assistant Sara Leal, 22, has claimed she and Kutcher, 33, had a one-night affair in San Diego, on Sept. 24, Moore and Kutcher's six-year anniversary.

Moore was previously married to singer Freddy Moore from 1980 to 1985, and to Willis from 1987 to 2000. This was Kutcher's first marriage.

Moore has three daughters with Willis.

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