Singer John Mayer talks ex Katy Perry: 'Coupling is a tricky thing' Katy Perry and John Mayer arrive at their seats before U.S. President Barack Obama is sworn-in for a second term by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts during his public inauguration ceremony at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. on January 21, 2013. President Obama was joined by First Lady Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia. LOS ANGELES, April 2 (UPI) -- John Mayer confirmed on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" his breakup with fellow U.S. recording star Katy Perry but he declined to offer details about the split. "It was a very private relationship going in," he told DeGeneres on Tuesday's edition of her show. It was a private relationship during and it's a private relationship still. DeGeneres said she is a friend of Perry's and knows she and Mayer broke up some time after the Grammy Awards ceremony in February. "I just want to say, I love you and my thoughts are with you," DeGeneres told Mayer, who thanked her for her support. "I can understand asking the question based on some previous answers I have given but I have finally learned how to put the wall between one thing and the other," he said, referring to how he was criticized for talking about his past courtships with Jennifer Aniston and Jessica Simpson. "I've been much happier since then," Mayer said. I'm on the same journey as everyone else. Coupling is a tricky thing.