Breakups

According to sources connected with the ex-couple, Karissa pulled a cruel bait-and-switch before she dumped the actor.

First, she told Jones she needed to move back into the Playboy mansion for professional reasons ... but after he helped her pack up her stuff ... she dropped the hammer, confessing she was actually moving in with her twin sister ... and their relationship was over.

Sigh. And we were JUST starting to get that damn song out of our heads.

Ex-fiancée Crystal Harris went on KIIS FM with Ryan Seacrest this morning -- days after she called off her wedding with Hef -- claiming the Playboy mogul has now bowed out of the marriage game ... for good.

According to Crystal, Hef had only agreed to marry her because he believed it was what she wanted -- and he was actually RELIEVED when she called the whole thing off.

Sources close to Crystal tell us she was fed up with the "couple hundred dollar" weekly allowance she got from Playboy -- and wanted to make her own cheese.

We're told Crystal purely focused on launching her music career -- even with the wedding just days away.

Our sources -- who are all at the mansion -- say Crystal, 25, and Hef, 85, had a nasty argument this weekend on the phone. When the dust settled Crystal decided to 86 the nuptials and quickly moved her stuff out.

The wedding was supposed to go down Saturday. It would have been Hef's, umm ... third marriage.

UPDATE: Hef just tweeted -- "The wedding is off."

Knight was doing a photoshoot near L.A. earlier today when he explained, "We just need some perspective ... that's all it is."

The two made the announcement on their five year wedding anniversary ... putting a relationship on hold that began on reality television when they co-starred on "The Surreal Life" together back in 2005.

TMZ has new information from sources connected to Maria. We're told when Maria found out that Arnold was the father of Mildred Patty Baena's son, she was "hysterical" and wanted to hold a news conference blowing the lid off the scandal.

We're told Maria's friends talked her off a ledge and a plan was eventually hatched to leak the details to the L.A. Times and TMZ.

And we have new information about when Maria found out about the baby. Now we're told Maria learned about Arnold's love child in late April or very early May.

The timeline further supports the story TMZ broke earlier -- that Maria was miserable in her marriage and wanted out for a long time. As we first reported, Maria was looking at pricey L.A. condos back in January with a Beverly Hillls realtor.

Maria has told friends for nearly two years she wanted a divorce but never pulled the trigger. Maria, we're told, is now ready to end the marriage.

Maria sported oversized shades outside a restaurant with 13-year old Christopher, and 19-year old Christina in their hometown of Brentwood on Wednesday.

TMZ broke the story ... Mildred Patty Baena listed her husband, Rogelio Baena, on the child's birth certificate. Yet in her divorce petition, filed in February, 2008, she checks the box that says, "There are no minor children."

The upshot -- the judge would not order Rogelio to pay child support, and Patty is effectively saying someone other than him is the father.

As Arnold Schwarzenegger's baby drama exploded ... Maria Shriver was in Chicago with Oprah Winfrey for the taping of her farewell show -- and together they took a blatant shot at Arnold ... to the delight of 20,000 fans.

Maria walked on the United Center stage tonight with Oprah's bff Gayle King -- and declared O had always given her "love support, wisdom, and most of all the truth."

Oprah backed that up by emphasizing, "THE TRUTH!" Our spies say everyone in the arena understood it was a message to Arnold -- and the place exploded with applause.

Other guests at the show -- Aretha Franklin, Halle Berry, Simon Cowell, and Jerry Seinfeld ... and Usher closed the show as confetti rained down on the crowd.

Not shockingly, we're told Chi-town hero Michael Jordan got the biggest ovation of any of Oprah's guests.

Sources say Maria was distraught after learning Arnold pulled a John Edwards. The baby mama worked for the family for two decades, retired and received a severance package, according to the L.A. Times.

The baby was born more than a decade ago, but until recently Maria thought the father was the woman's husband at the time.

Schwarzenegger told The Times, "After leaving the governor's office I told my wife about this event, which occurred over a decade ago. I understand and deserve the feelings of anger and disappointment among my friends and family. There are no excuses and I take full responsibility for the hurt I have caused. I apologized to Maria, my children and my family. I am truly sorry."

TMZ heard about the baby 5 days ago, but everyone in the Schwarzenegger camp was denying it. But sources told us Maria was "completely distraught" yet determined to move on with her life. She has not pulled the trigger to end her marriage on the legal side, but she has been working with a very powerful financial adviser who has been helping her position herself for a divorce.

We believe -- though have not confirmed -- there is a prenup, but the couple has been together so long the effectiveness of it is problematic.

UPDATE: Maria released a statement saying, "This is a painful and heartbreaking time. As a mother, my concern is for the children."

She continued, "I ask for compassion, respect and privacy as my children and I try to rebuild our lives and heal. I will have no further comment."

Sources tell TMZ ... Oprah met with Maria last week, trying to convince her to become a talk show host on Oprah's OWN Network. We've also learned Maria is going to be a guest on Oprah's final show.

The 35-year-old boxer told People.com, "We had a great time together, but it's not that easy to manage a relationship between two continents."

Hayden adds, "Even though we've decided splitting up is best for both of us, we have an amazing amount of love and respect for each other and remain very close friends."

The couple had been together for 2 years.