David Spade once joked of reports linking him to Heather Locklear, "I feel bad for her to be connected with me." But it seems his sympathy is no longer required, because three separate outlets have declared their never-confirmed five-month-old relationship kaput.

"Heather is still going through a lot with Denise [Richards] and [soon-to-be ex-husband] Richie [Sambora]," a source tells People. "It's just too soon for her to get serious. They are still friends. It's not ugly."

A Spade confidante tells the mag the split was "a mutual decision," but Us Weekly is convinced he pulled the plug, prompted by the oddball duo's "constant fighting" in recent weeks.

"They broke up simply because she became more and more of a b**** as she became more comfortable with him, and was difficult in every way," a bitter, bitter snitch alleges to Us.

The enigmatically appealing funnyman was apparently concerned that the ageless bombshell was still on the rebound from Sambora, with a mole maintaining, "He was really cautious and saw some of the danger signals. She just became so high-maintenance, and so not worth it to be with."

Adds yet another loose-lipped insider to Life & Style, "They had a lot of blowups and fights."

The shaggy-coiffed blondes, who have never admitted to being any more than pals, raised eyebrows when they were spied locking lips back in March, about a month after Heather filed for divorce from Richie.

More sightings followed, and Locklear, 44, was by Spade's side as he celebrated his 42nd birthday in July with a bash in Los Angeles, an occasion she reportedly marked by presenting him with a $5,000 gold-and-diamond skull necklace.

"David and Heather have always been friends and will remain friends," his rep tells Us.

But does Locklear already have a new friend to keep her company? Us and Life & Style report she's been spotted out with TV producer Jonathan Prince.

"She's known Jonathan for a very long time, and he's been on her radar," a snitch tells L&S. "They've always been friends, but now it's something much more."