Kanye, Fiancee Call It Quits

Rapper Kanye West and his designer fiancée Alexis Phifer have officially broken off their engagement, Phifer confirmed yesterday. “They’d been having problems,” said a friend of West’s. “Kanye is really focused on his show… Alexis is a nice girl, but Kanye has been going through a rough time.”

Speculation began Thursday when Phifer was spotted without her engagement ring at a New York event where her clothing line, Ghita, was featured. “It’s always sad when things like this end,” the designer told People. “We remain friends… I wish him the best in his future and all of his endeavors. He’s one of the most talented people I’ve ever met.” The couple have dated intermittently since 2002. (More celebrity stories.)