Ashton Kutcher, Demi Moore split

Actress Demi Moore announced “with great sadness” the end of her high-profile marriage to Ashton Kutcher, after his reported love affair with a woman less than half her age.

The confirmation comes after months of media reports about problems between the Hollywood couple, who married in 2005 when she was 42 and he was 27.

“It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I have decided to end my six-year marriage to Ashton,” the 49-year-old said in a statement issued through her publicist.

“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.”

Thirty-three year-old Mr Kutcher tweeted a poignant message minutes after Ms Moore’s announcement.

“I will forever cherish the time I spent with Demi. Marriage is one of the most difficult things in the world and unfortunately sometimes it fails. Love and Light, AK,” he wrote.