Ellen blames media attention for break-up

TV star Ellen DeGeneres is blaming the break-up of her relationship with girlfriend Anne Heche on the pressure of media attention.

The American comedy actress says the couple - who dated for more than three years - were watched as if they were "the only lesbians on the planet".

She describes the collapse of their relationship as the most awful event in her life and says she would have had a breakdown if it were not for her sense of humour.