Breakups

The newly-unencumbered Jason Trawick is once again the proud owner of a $90,000 engagement ring ... because we've learned Britney Spears has already given it back.

Sources connected with the couple tell TMZ ... Jason did not ask Brit to return the 3.5-carat, Neil Lane ring ... she returned it on her own.

By the way ... there are reports that Britney bought the ring herself. Not true.

FUN FACT: In California, the ring -- which in legalese is a "gift in contemplation of marriage" -- must be returned if the wedding is cancelled, UNLESS the dude is the one who called the whole thing off. If it's a mutual break-up, or if the woman is the one who pulls the plug, the ring goes back to the guy.

The question -- If Jason gets engaged again, is it bad luck to give that ring to his fiancée?

Britney Spears has had a big week. We broke the stories that she's split with fiancé Jason Trawick and is negotiating a huge deal to move to Vegas, where she would regularly perform. So we gotta ask ...

4:17PM PST: Jason Trawick has just been removed as Britney's co-conservator ... TMZ has learned. Jamie Spears is once again her sole conservator.

Britney Spears and Jason Trawick have broken up ... TMZ has learned.

The couple got engaged back in 2011. Trawick started out as Britney's agent, the duo started dating and he eventually became her co-conservator along with her dad, Jamie Spears.

Multiple sources connected to the couple tell TMZ ... Jason didn't want to make the announcement until he was taken off the conservatorship. Interestingly, lawyers for the conservatorship are in court right now, along with Britney's dad, Jamie Spears, so it's possible Jason will be removed today.

Sources say it was a "friendly breakup" and Britney and Jason will remain friends. As for why they split, we're told they just "grew apart."

The timing's pretty interesting considering Brit recently changed agencies, heading to CAA ... an indication Trawick was no longer involved in managing her career.

Britney told People.com ... "Jason and I have decided to call off our engagement. I'll always adore him and we will remain great friends."

Trawick also issued a statement saying, "As this chapter ends for us a new one begins. I love and cherish her and her boys and we will be close forever."

It's barely been a month since she broke up with her NFL player ex, but Hayden Panettiere's already got her hands on another man's kielbasa ... ex-BF Wladimir Klitschko ... at least that's the way it seemed at the airport today ... with her adorably girly giggle fit.

Fact: the 6'6" Ukrainian World Boxing Organization champ dropped 5'2" Hayden off at the airport today in Florida, where he lives.

Fact: When Hayden landed in L.A. she giggled like a schoolgirl when we asked her about Wlad -- insisting she and Wlad are "just good buddies."

Fact: THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY BONING AGAIN ... probably.

You'll recall, Hayden and her ex-BF Scotty McKnight -- who played for the Jets before he was cut last summer -- called it quits back in December.

If there's one thing Harry Styles didn't get enough of while dating Taylor Swift ... it's clam -- because that's pretty much the first thing he ate following their breakup ... and TMZ has the pic.

The "One Direction" singer -- who just ended his record 2-month relationship with T. Swizzle -- was in Queens Sunday night, when he got a hankering for some Italian ... and swung by the famous Don Peppe's with a pal.

We're told Harry appeared extremely chill throughout his meal -- happily noshing on veal parmigiana, shrimp luciano over linguini, and his main course ... a steaming pile of clams.

Melissa Etheridge just scored a legal victory against her former domestic partner Tammy Lynn Michaels, who was trying to get their settlement tossed out the window.

The judge in the legal war has ruled the settlement is valid and binding.

TMZ broke the story ... under the terms of the settlement ... Melissa must pay Tammy $13,000 a month in spousal support and $10,000 a month in child support. They have agreed to joint custody.

Melissa gets to keep some property in Springdale, Arizona, Hidden Hills, California, and somewhere in Arkansas.

As for Tammy, she gets 50% of the royalties from the album, The Awakening. Tammy also gets 50% from the songs, A Simple Love, All There Is, All We Can Really Do, An Unexpected Rain, California, God is in the People, Heroes and Friends, Imagine That, I've Loved You Before, Map of the Stars, Message to Myself, Open Your Minds, The Kingdom of Heaven, The Universe Listened, Threesome, and What Happens Tomorrow.

Selena Gomez had nothing to say at LAX about her breakup with Justin Bieber or allegations that the Biebs had been smoking pot.

TMZ broke the story ... Selena and Justin broke up in Mexico on December 30th after a blowout argument. She flew back to L.A. that day and Justin returned on New Year's Eve. As for the nature of the argument, a source tells us, "It's just high school stuff."

The photogs were trying to grill Gomez -- who dressed like a chic Unabomber -- about Justin's alleged marijuana use. A close friend of Chris Guerra -- the photog who was killed on New Year's Day -- told TMZ Guerra had told him he saw J.B. driving his Ferrari earlier in the day, smoking pot from a pipe. Sources connected with Bieber insist it's not the case.

Olympic legend Michael Phelps has broken up with girlfriend Megan Rossee ... TMZ has learned.

Look at the photo above, then read that sentence again.

According to our sources, Phelps felt the relationship wasn't going anywhere, so he decided to end it so he could pursue other options.

And apparently in the world of Michael Phelps, those options are somehow better than this.

If you're on Mel Gibson's Christmas list this year, here's one thing you DEFINITELY won't be getting ... Oksana Grigorieva's new album.

Mel was in a rare, jovial mood when we spotted him chatting with fans outside a screening of "Apocalypto" in Hollywood last night. When our photog shouted to Mel ... "You gonna pick up Oksana's album?" ... he gave a HUGE chuckle before shaking his head and walking away.

Kobe Bryant and his estranged wife Vanessa didn't appear too estranged last night ... strolling around NYC together last night arm in arm ... but sources tell TMZ, it's a different story behind the scenes.

Kobe and Vanessa looked as couply as a couple could look on their way out of the 12-12-12 concert at Madison Square Garden ... even sharing a ride home.

Of course, in public ... Kobe and Vanessa appear to be well along the road to reconciliation ever since she filed for divorce in 2011 -- kissing in public, lunching together and now going on concert dates.

But sources connected to the couple tell TMZ ... Kobe ain't outta the woods yet.

Hayden Panettiere and her football player boyfriend Scotty McKnight are officially broken up ... this according to sources close to the couple.

Sources tell us ... the two broke up a couple of weeks ago ... but it wasn't a nasty breakup. We're told the two are still "really good friends."

One source tells us, "They will probably be back together sometime down the road."

Scotty -- who played for the NY Jets -- is the 2nd pro athlete Hayden has dated -- she was with pro boxer Wladimir Klitschko for a year and a half starting in late 2010.

Meanwhile, Hayden's already showing signs of post-breakup hotness ... as demonstrated below in a screen grab from her show "Nashville."

Remember when Kat Von D vowed to NEVER remove her tattoo of Jesse James' face even though they broke up?? 'Memba that? Well ... she just changed her mind.

Kat just posted a photo showing a laser beam blasting away at the portrait of a young Jesse that Kat had inked on to her rib cage back when they were dating.

When they broke up last year, Kat told us the tat had "a lot of meaning" ... and she wanted to keep it to preserve the memory.

But Kat has obviously had a change of heart ... and paid a visit to Dr. Tattoff. She also tweeted, "AND SO IT BEGINS! First round of tattoo removal well underway! :)"

No word on why Kat changed her mind ... but we're guessing a giant portrait of the ex-boyfriend doesn't sit well with the current boyfriend.

The Wanted singer Max George is 100% not dating Lindsay Lohan -- sources close to the heartthrob tell TMZ -- but no one seems sure of exactly how she got backstage at Jingle Ball last night in Philadelphia.

As we reported, Lindsay was spotted signing autographs at the concert -- but according to our Max sources, IF he invited LiLo ... he's not owning up to it. We're also told Max had no idea she was planning to come.

It's unclear if the two made contact while Lindsay was backstage -- but sources tell us, Max has no desire to be in a relationship right now ... with Lindsay or anyone ... seeing as he only recently broke things off with his ex-GF Michelle Keegan (some English actress).

FYI -- Michelle's smokin' hot.

So we gotta ask ...

Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman are actively trying to save their marriage ... so says Danny.

DeVito revealed the status of his 30-year marriage at an event in L.A. this week -- after "Extra" correspondent Jerry Penacoli asked how he was adjusting to life as a single man.

"It's not something you adjust to," DeVito said ... adding, "Rhea and I are really close. Actually, still together, just separate, but together.”

When asked if there was a chance of a reconciliation, Danny revealed, "We're working on it."

DeVito and Perlman separated back in October ... but appeared at an airport together a few weeks ago ... the first sign that their marriage still has a chance.

Actor Jason Patric is embroiled in a bizarre custody war, in which he donated sperm so his ex-girlfriend could have a baby, but according to the deal she could never tell anyone or ask for financial support.

TMZ has learned the facts surfaced in a court hearing earlier this month -- Patric was with on-again-off-again girlfriend Danielle Schreiber for more than a decade. They broke up in early 2009, and he allegedly told her that he didn't have any money to give her but he would give her the next best thing -- his sperm, so she could have a baby.

We're told Jason made it clear ... he would only provide his sperm if she didn't breathe a word to anyone and never asked him for child support. She agreed.

Baby Gus was born in December, 2009. In 2011, Jason and Danielle got back together but it didn't last long. They broke up in May, 2012.

Apparently, while they were together, Jason, who never paid Danielle child support, took a liking to Gus, because he filed legal docs in family court asking a judge to award him 50/50 custody.

But there's a little known law which says if an unmarried man artificially inseminates an unmarried woman with the help of a physician, he's NOT legally the dad and has no custody rights.

The judge has given Danielle temporary sole legal and physical custody of the boy. Jason has visitation rights. We're told Danielle is fine VOLUNTARILY giving Jason the right to spend time with the boy, but objects to a judge ordering visitation -- she doesn't believe Jason has or should have any LEGAL rights to custody or visitation.

The case is back in court this afternoon. We'll let you know what happens.

Don't count 'em out yet ... 'cause Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman were spotted TOGETHER at an airport this morning ... a possible sign they're trying to save their marriage.

It's a pretty big deal ... considering the two revealed they separated back in October ... and it seemed their 30 year marriage was done for.

FYI -- the two married back in 1982 and have 3 children together.