EDDIE MURPHY - EDMONDS DISPUTES GILL'S 'LIES' ABOUT MURPHY MARRIAGE

LATEST: EDDIE MURPHY's ex TRACEY EDMONDS has hit back at singer JOHNNY GILL's comments about the breakdown of their relationship, insisting they are "outrageous lies". The couple married on the Pacific island of Bora Bora on New Year's Day (01Jan08) after a year-long romance, but split just a fortnight later - before they could make the nuptials legal in their native U.S. The break-up has been dogged by rumours of bitter arguments between the pair - with some sources suggesting the relationship may have ended after a row over a pre-nuptial agreement. But Gill, who attended the lavish ceremony, recently claimed his pal Murphy ended the marriage after heeding advice from his mother Lillian not to rush into the union. He said, "Eddie has a great level of respect for his mother and his family, just like anybody. And when Mummy finally decided to speak on it, she spoke on it after the ceremony - simply that she felt everything was moving too fast and it didn't feel right." However, Edmonds - who has been banned by a confidentiality agreement from publicly discussing the details of her union - disputes Gill's claims and is adamant that was not the case. In a statement released to American radio host Doug Banks, she says: "I was very shocked and disappointed to hear of Johnny Gill's false spin on the chain of events surrounding our wedding. "His outrageous lies were clearly a very desperate and pathetic attempt to clean up his reputation at my expense. I would appreciate it if Mr. Gill would refrain from continuing to spread false gossip and lies to the public, and allow everyone involved to move on with their lies. We all know the real truth."