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Chad Lowe has finally broken his silence about his unceremonious dumping by Hilary Swank in favor of greener, more agenty pastures, an indignity she mitigated by announcing to Vanity Fair that an unspecified "substance abuse problem" played a significant role in the break-up. Says an Extra press release:

In reaction to a Vanity Fair article in which Swank revealed details about Lowe's struggle with substance abuse, he comments, "I was disappointed that the details of our relationship became public." However he admits, "They were absolutely true, absolutely true. I've been sober for three and a half years and very grateful for that."

Lowe wants to set the record straight about Swank, he comments, "I am so grateful to Hilary for her support of me in a very difficult time in my life three and a half years ago. What hurt me more than anything is that people would think that she wasn't there for me and she was." Lowe adds, "She was the love of my life and that's not something you just shut off. I will always love her."

"Disappointed" seems somehow insufficient to describe how one might feel about an ex—posing waxed and wet on the cover of a high-circulation magazine—suggesting you're not just perpetually unemployed, but you're a perpetually unemployed cokehead. We are always too forgiving of the ones we love, however, and a part of Lowe seems to still be fantasizing that nothing at all has changed, and that at any moment he might turn a corner of their former shared West Village townhouse to find the breathtaking sight of his wife power-walking on a treadmill with an Oscar in each hand, moments before the love of his life turns to him and says, "If you're going to just stand there, could you at least get me a Fiji from the fridge?"

The entire press release after the jump.

ONLY ON "EXTRA"

CHAD LOWE SPEAKS OUT ABOUT HIS DIVORCE FROM HILARY SWANK

(Los Angeles - November 24, 2006) - Chad Lowe sits down with "Extra" and for the first time speaks about his much-publicized split from Hilary Swank.

Lowe declares, "It has been a tough year and not something I expected. It's very humbling."

In reaction to a Vanity Fair article in which Swank revealed details about Lowe's struggle with substance abuse, he comments, "I was disappointed that the details of our relationship became public." However he admits, "They were absolutely true, absolutely true. I've been sober for three and a half years and very grateful for that."

Lowe wants to set the record straight about Swank, he comments, "I am so grateful to Hilary for her support of me in a very difficult time in my life three and a half years ago. What hurt me more than anything is that people would think that she wasn't there for me and she was." Lowe adds, "She was the love of my life and that's not something you just shut off. I will always love her."

In regard to reconciliation, Lowe says, "Not in a marital sense...I'm very happy with my life and where it is now." He admits, "It's been a tough year and I've gotten through it and at this point with some perspective I can see that things really work out the way they are meant to."

About whether he might find love gain, he says, "I don't know. I don't think you can predict that...I'm very open to it and you know I take great solace in the fact that I know I am capable of really deep love."

Tune into "Extra" on Monday, November 27 for more with Chad Lowe about his split from Swank and his role on "24" as well as his directorial debut, "Beautiful Ohio."