It's over: Sean Penn cuts a lonely figure as he splits from Scarlett Johansson

They were first linked together back in January, and were famously pictured holding hands at a White House dinner early last month.
But it seems that the romance has run its course for Sean Penn and Scarlett Johansson.
The Oscar winning actor cut a lonely figure as he strolled around Malibu, California on Wednesday, two days before news of his split from the 26-year-old actress broke.

Lonely: Sean Penn cut a desolate looking figure as he strolled around Malibu, Los Angeles on Wednesday

Romance: and Sean seemed happy to be pictured holding hands at the White House Correspondents dinner last month

A source told People.com today that the celebrity couple are 'no longer dating.'
Speculation began about the couple's relationship after Scarlett failed to attend the Cannes Film Festival with the 50-year-old actor, who was promoting his new movie The Tree of Life
She has been busy working on The Avengers in New Mexico, reprising her role of Black Widow from Iron Man 2.

Flamed-haired beauty: Inside the event the actress posed on the red carpet, but not with Penn

End of the affair: Sean and Scarlett are said to have been dating since January this year

The reason for the split wasn't immediately known, with representatives declining to comment.

 

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Both Scarlett and Sean had never spoken publicly about their romance, with a representative for the actress even going so far as to deny their relationship.
'Scarlett and Sean are not dating – they have been friends for years. Nothing more, nothing less,' the spokesman said back in February.

Lonely trip: Rumours surfaced about the relationship after the actor attended The Tree of Life premiere in Cannes alone, here pictured alongside co-stars Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain

As they were: Scarlett and actor Ryan Reynolds filed for divorce last December

'They have been talking over the last few months regarding Haiti Relief and Scarlett’s upcoming trip to Haiti as Oxfam’s Global Ambassador.'
However, the couple were since spotted out jogging together and made headlines earlier this year after taking a trip to Cabo San Lucas in Mexico.
They were also spotted flirting over lunch together in Los Angeles in March.
Then came the White House Correspondents dinner In Washington where they seemed happy to be pictured holding hands.

Scarlett filed for divorce from her husband of two years Ryan Reynolds back in December.
Sean Penn split from his wife, actress Robin Wright back in 2009 with their divorce finalised the following year.
Sean and Robin have a daughter, Dylan, 20, and a 17-year-old son, Hopper.