Bruce Springsteen [ tickets ], who has vigilantly protected his private life over the course of his career, has taken the rare step of directly addressing--and denying--tabloid reports that he and his wife, Patti Scialfa, have split.

Springsteen's response came via a statement posted this week on his official website.

"I hesitate to use this website for anything personal believing it should remain a place where fans of my music can come free of the distractions that occasionally arise with the rest of my job," reads Springsteen's message. "However, due to the unfounded and ugly rumors that have appeared in the papers over the last few days, I felt they shouldn’t pass without comment. Patti and I have been together for 18 years--the best 18 years of my life. We have built a beautiful family we love and want to protect and our commitment to one another remains as strong as the day we were married."

Last week, a New York Post column last week alleged that Springsteen and Scialfa had separated and were living "virtually separate lives." It also claimed that Springsteen recently had been spotted in several spots with another woman. The report quickly spread to other tabloids.