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A Request from Kylie

Kylie says leave Olivier alone

Kylie Minogue has asked fans to give her ex-boyfriend Olivier Martinez a break - "He simply does not deserve the kind of harassment or vitriol to which he has been subjected," she writes in a message posted on her Web site last night.

Minogue and Paris-born actor Martinez announced their split on Feb. 2, after four years together. The couple's parting follows reports that Martinez, 41, was seen with younger women in Los Angeles twice at the end of January while Minogue, 38, remained in Britain.

In a message posted on kylie.com Friday night, Minogue writes: "As for the treatment Olivier has received of late, I can only reiterate that he simply does not deserve the kind of harassment or vitriol to which he has been subjected. For someone whom I have enormous love and respect, and communicate with, it is so grossly unfair: to demonize an honest man. I would ask of you, my fans, to show your support for both Olli and myself as a separation is never easy."

Tuesday, the pop star stepped out for the first time since the split was announced, launching a London museum exhibition of her stage costumes. She told reporters Martinez was supporting her, saying he'd sent her good wishes for the evening.

"It's all good," she said. At a launch of her perfume Darling at Harrods Friday, Minogue brushed off media "accusations of disloyalty" on Martinez's part and told fans - some of whom had waited on line all night in freezing temperatures to meet her - "I'm fine."