A month after filing for divorce from rocker Pete Wentz, Ashlee was photographed at an L.A. mall with another musician, Craig Owens of the band D.R.U.G.S.

But a source close to the singer/actress says reports of a budding romance with Owens, 26, – who is signed to Wentz’s Decaydance Records – are just not true.

“Craig is a longtime friend and was comforting Ashlee during this difficult time,” the Simpson source tells PEOPLE. “She’s not moving on. There’s no race for a new relationship. They’re friends.”

Recent reports that Simpson, 26, and Wentz, 31, are gearing up for a custody battle are also untrue, according to the source. “Ashlee and Pete’s split is amicable and they’re working together to make this as positive a situation for [2-year-old son] Bronx as possible.”

“Right now her attention is on Bronx and some new work projects she has coming up. That’s it.”

So what does Wentz think of all this? 

A source close to the rocker reports: “The only thing on Pete’s mind right now is spending as much time with Bronx as he can before goes out on the road next week.”

Biel and Timberlake have dated since 2007, though it’s been a rocky relationship at times. In late 2010, it was rumored that Timberlake had cheated with Olivia Munn; his rep soon denied it, but in January Life & Style reported that Timberlake told Munn, via text message, that his relationship “was over.”

There were rumors that the pair had split in 2009, too; Us Weekly reported that Biel was in denial, though again, they were soon spotted vacationing together in Napa and enjoying romantic meals.

In 2010, Biel spoke with Vogue, gushing about her private relationship with Timberlake.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” she said. “I don’t feel the need to clear anything up. It’s the most precious thing that I have in my life, and I care about it so much that I don’t care about what anyone says or thinks. I have just not addressed it in any real way, and I’m not going to. It’s mine. And I really like that about it.”

In addition to TMZ, Us Weekly now reports that this time, the split is for real.

Tiger Woods is finally planning to speak out, making a statement on Friday from a Florida golf course. But he’s got the staff of the course and undercover cops working overtime to ensure that the grounds are Woods-ready and spy-free.

According to TMZ, Woods will appear for his press conference at the TPC Sawgrass golf course in Ponte Vedra Beach in Florida, home of the PGA Tour. While Woods isn’t expected to arrive until his scheduled speaking time of 11am, the staff at the course has a call-time of 4a.m. for final preparations and security detailing for the golf and tabloid star.

He’ll speak from the golf course’s clubhouse. For maximum privacy and security, he is expected to arrive by driving underneath the clubhouse in a black SUV. The staff has been instructed to clear the area for his arrival by 5:30am.

Local police and undercover police are also expected to be on-site.

The press conference will be Woods’ first public appearance since November 27th, when he crashed his SUV into a tree outside his Florida home.

John Mayer

It all started when he was describing himself: “I am a very…I’m just very. V-E-R-Y. And if you can’t handle very, then I’m a douche bag. But I think the world needs a little very. That’s why black people love me.”

And then he used the N-word…

“Someone asked me the other day, ‘What does it feel like now to have a hood pass?’ And by the way, it’s sort of a contradiction in terms, because if you really had a hood pass, you could call it a n—er pass. Why are you pulling a punch and calling it a hood pass if you really have a hood pass? But I said, ‘I can’t really have a hood pass. I’ve never walked into a restaurant, asked for a table and been told, ‘We’re full.’”

This afternoon, he took to his Twitter to apologize for the using the word.

“Re: using the ‘N word’ in an interview: I am sorry that I used the word. And it’s such a shame that I did because the point I was trying to make was in the exact opposite spirit of the word itself. It was arrogant of me to think I could intellectualize using it, because I realize that there’s no intellectualizing a word that is so emotionally charged.”

He goes on:

“And while I’m using today for looking at myself under harsh light, I think it’s time to stop trying to be so raw in interviews…It started as an attempt to not let the waves of criticism get to me, but it’s gotten out of hand and I’ve created somewhat of a monster. I wanted to be a blues guitar player. And a singer. And a songwriter. Not a shock jock. I don’t have the stomach for it. Again, because I don’t want anyone to think I’m equivocating: I should have never said the word and I will never say it again.”

Well, at least he’s apologizing for something, and being less awful in interviews is a good idea. But what about his other weird racist bit about his white supremacist penis that somehow evolved into calling Kerry Washington “white-girl crazy”?

“My dick is sort of like a white supremacist. I’ve got a Benetton heart and a fuckin’ David Duke cock. I’m going to start dating separately from my dick. I always thought Holly Robinson Peete was gorgeous. Every white dude loved Hilary from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. And Kerry Washington. She’s superhot, and she’s also white-girl crazy. Kerry Washington would break your heart like a white girl. Just all of a sudden she’d be like, ‘Yeah, I sucked his dick. Whatever.’ And you’d be like, ‘What? We weren’t talking about that.’”

John…maybe someone should simply start writing your “scripts” for you before interviews?

Jamie Lynn Spears and boyfriend Casey Aldridge have ended their nearly two-year controversial relationship, a source tells E! News. During their time together, the teens welcomed a daughter, Maddie Briann, 20-months-old, and endured Aldridge’s near-fatal car crash last April.

But Britney Spears‘ little sister isn’t moping around post-split. The same source confirms reports that the 18-year-old has moved on with 28-year-old Louisianan, James Watson.

Watson reportedly owns a communications and television equipment company called Advanced Media Partners in Hammond, L.A. When contacted for a statement on his rumored romance with Spears, Watson’s secretary told E! News he has “no comment.”

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Scandal-laden beauty queen Carrie Prejean has gotten engaged to NFL stud Kyle Boller, E! News has shared. A source says that the two decided to make their whirlwind romance official Saturday in Prejean’s hometown of San Diego—where the Rams QB also has a house and spends time during the off-season. 

Ex-Miss California, 22, began dating the 28-year-old UC Berkeley alum last July in the midst of her controversial rise to fame, which included anti-same-sex marriage lobbying, alleged sex tapes and a much-talked about showdown with Larry King.

Prejean may have been stripped of her previous title, but here’s hoping she has better luck with the next—wife!

Kim Kardashian

Some cynics joked on Saturday that Bush might throw the game, but it seemed from his stellar performance that he’s eager to get hitched. He’s now just two wins away from holy matrimony!

It’s a rare occasion for two nominees to tie at an awards show — but on Friday night (January 15) at the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards, Meryl Streep and Sandra Bullock both won for Best Actress. Each lady was allowed time to complete her speech, but it was the moment in between that is sure to have everyone talking.

Streep won for her role as Julia Child in “Julie & Julia.” “First, I want to thank my husband who’s golfing,” she laughed. “But I’m sitting next to the head of Sony Pictures, so I’m really thrilled. I’m really, really thrilled ’cause I really love what I do.

“I love acting and I love to work and I love food and I love sex — so did Julia Child, so it wasn’t that much of a stretch. I want to thank the embarrassingly gifted Stanley Tucci — he knows why. And we’re so lucky to do what we do and to give back and I hope we all do it this week. I’m really very grateful.”

After Streep, Sandra Bullock’s name was announced and she took the stage to accept her award for her work in the box-office hit “The Blind Side.” After approaching Streep in mock anger and yelling, “This is bullsh–,” she and Streep hugged and shared an open-mouth kiss.

Bullock later used her speech to address her critics and draw some funny parallels between her and Streep. “This is an honor. This one right here [Streep] inspired me to do everything better. To the critics — I bet you never saw this coming and you might never again,” she continued. “My agent … you have a hard time finding me work, ’cause I don’t want to leave home ’cause I love food and sex. We’re so lucky to be here tonight when so many are in pain. I don’t know what to say, but Meryl’s a great kisser.”

The Oscar winner, nominated at tonight’s Critics’ Choice Awards for Best Actor for his performance in Up in the Air, was missing in action. His empty seat was made noticeable when Jason Reitman singled out Clooney’s brilliance  while accepting the honor for Best Adapted Screenplay.

We hear that Clooney opted to skip the kudosfest to meet with Wyclef Jean, with whom he’s organizing next week’s star-studded telethon to raise funds for earthquake relief in Haiti, where a 7.0 temblor pretty much leveled the capital city of Port-au-Prince on Tuesday.