Lana Del Rey's ex: 'I was dumped via interview'

Lana Del Rey's ex-boyfriend Barrie-James O'neill found out his relationship with the singer was over when he read about it in an interview.

The former Kassidy rocker began dating the Summertime Sadness star in 2011, and they parted ways three years later in 2014.

Barrie-James has now opened up about split, revealing he had no idea he had been dumped until he read the singer's comments about him online after being alerted to the news when he was sent a consolatory text by his cousin.

"(My cousin texted me saying), 'Sorry that you and the missus have broken up'..." he tells British newspaper the Scottish Sun. "I was like 'That's news to me - where did you hear that?' And it was on this website. I'm thinking it's a load of... gossip. But it wasn't. That's how I found out.

"It all happened when I went to London, as she was staying for a few days. But she couldn't stay as she had to do a big interview in America for her new album which was coming out... She couldn't say it to my face but there's no bad blood between us..."

Barrie-James goes on to insist he understands why Lana did not end the relationship in a more direct manner.

"Looking back, it probably wasn't easy living with me - I'm an insomniac and I have depression," he adds. "I understand why she did it... I felt like a burden on Lana - as she was having to take care of me. And I don't like that, I like to provide for myself..."

He also fears Lana's fame took a toll on the romance: "When you go out with someone who has a bit of a profile, it's hard to not let things affect you. She'd phone me upset about something that had been written about her - that happened a lot in the beginning. It's a big difference comforting your girlfriend about her friend upsetting her, compared to the New York Times doing it.

"It was weird. Most of the time, I was saying, 'What... am I doing here?' But I tried to think about being a protective boyfriend and making sure she got on stage every night."