Elon Musk confirms Amber Heard split: 'We are still friends'

Aug. 8 (UPI) -- Elon Musk says he's "still friends" with Amber Heard, despite their recent split.

The 46-year-old Tesla founder addressed his breakup with Heard by commenting on the 31-year-old actress' Instagram photo Monday.

"V cute," Musk responded to a side-by-side photo of The Little Mermaid character Ariel and Heard, who will play the mermaid Mera in the upcoming movies Justice League and Aquaman.

"Btw, just to clear up some of the press storm this weekend, although Amber and I did break up, we are still friends, remain close and love one another," he added. "Long distance relationship when both partners have intense work obligations are always difficult, but who knows what the future holds."

Us Weekly reported Sunday that Musk and Heard had recently called it quits after a year of dating. Sources said the couple's split was due to their busy schedules.

"The timing wasn't good for them," an insider told the magazine. "He's super busy and works all the time. Amber is filming [Aquaman] in Australia until October. She's in no position to settle with him. She feels her career is just starting."

Musk and Heard met on the set of Machete Kills in 2013, and were first linked in July 2016 following their respective splits from Talulah Riley and Johnny Depp. Musk shares five sons, Damian, Griffin, Kai, Saxon and Xavier, with Riley.