Yesterday we first learned from a couple of sources that the fairytale romance betwixt Paris Hilton and Benji Madden was over and today People (as well as US Weekly) magazine is also reporting the same news. Altho neither rep for Paris or Benji offered official comment, People is citing a “source close to Hilton” with their report that the couple have truly called it quits. Here are a few pics of both Benji (at Bardot nightclub) and Paris (at Crown Bar) out and about in SoCal last night … alone:

Paris Hilton and Benji Madden’s romance is over. The pair split a few days ago after more than nine months of dating, a source close to Hilton tells PEOPLE. “She is saddened by the breakup but they’re just too different and they wanted different things in life,” says a source close to Hilton. “He was loyal and sweet but it was time to take a break.” Reps for both Hilton and Madden could not be reached for comment. On Nov. 15, Paris was photographed getting cozy with ex-boyfriend Stavros Niarchos at nightspot Mokai in Miami. The Hilton friend says the two were simply engaged in a close but friendly conversation. “In no way are they romantic, nor do they want to get back together,” the source says. And on Tuesday night, Hilton and Madden partied separately in L.A. – Hilton danced on top of a couch at Apple Lounge, while Madden was spotted at hotspot Coco de Ville with Nicole Richie, who dates his twin brother Joel Madden.

Honestly, I never really saw these two together … when I first heard the news that they were dating, I immediately discounted the report as rumor and conjecture. When it became obvs that the couple were actually dating, well, I didn’t really have much to say about it. The couple did stay together longer than I thought that they would but I had a feeling they wouldn’t be able to make it last (it is a bit curious that the couple started dating right before her MTV show started filming and are breaking up right as it is about to end). Benji is an amazing guy … seriously, one of the downest people I’ve ever had the fortune to know. I hope that he will be able to find true love for reals … and I have *no doubt* that Paris will be able to find a new love interest without any difficulty. Do y’all think this is a good thing?

[Photo credit: Splash News; Source]