Seal opens up about split from Heidi Klum

(CBS) Some stars shy away from the spotlight after a split, but Seal is speaking candidly about his recent separation from Heidi Klum.

The singer, 48, who is making the media rounds to promote his album "Soul 2," opened up about their breakup during appearances on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" and PBS' "Tavis Smiley" talk show.

Pictures: Heidi Klum and Seal
Pictures: Celebrity splits

On "Ellen," he explained why he's still wearing his wedding ring.

"It's just pretty much a token of how I feel about this woman," he told host Ellen DeGeneres in the interview, airing Tuesday. "We have eight years, eight wonderful years together. Just because we have decided to separate doesn't necessarily mean that you take off your ring and you're no longer connected to that person. We will be connected in many ways 'til the rest of our lives."

"Will we wear the rings for the rest of our lives? Who knows?" he continued. "But right now it feels really comfortable on my hand, so I have no intention of taking it off anytime soon."

When DeGeneres mentioned that many were surprised by news of the couple's separation, Seal said the couple was just as "shocked" by the split as everyone else. But, he added, "you just grow apart after a while."

"She has given me four incredible gifts - four beautiful children. She still, in my opinion, is the most wonderful woman in the world," he added of Klum. "I think our priority was to remain civil and do this thing with dignity. We still very much love each other."

"It's a shame," he admitted. "To say that neither of us were grieving would be an out-and-out lie."

On "Tavis Smiley," Seal also addressed the split, saying, "We have a tremendous amount of love and respect for each other, and of course our children are our first priority."

"What one has to do in this situation is remain civil and to retain one's dignity and to be professional and to understand that we are not the only people on this planet that go through this," he added in the interview, which is set to air Friday. "It is just unfortunately a chapter of life."

Watch his "Tavis Smiley" appearance below:

20 Photos

Heidi Klum and Seal

[Ms_Charley]

Doesn't Heidi Klum have a name? I don't want to appear rude but ... Seal says he's wearing his wedding ring because it is a sign of how he feels about "this woman."

That would be the woman who he also refers to as "She." ie: it was "she" who gifted him with 4 children.

In the interview with Ellen, Seal never mentions Heidi Klum's name. Not ONCE.

I find Seal's comments as disingenuous. I also think one of his final statements in the interview was terribly presumptuous ... that is, that "We" very much love each other.

Not only does Heidi Klum not have a name but she apparently doesn't have a voice either ... Seal seems quite OK with speaking about Ms Klum's alleged love for him.

Seal's vocal media appearances so soon after such a split smack of him trying to score public sympathy via media attention.

[Martha12345]

So Seal, who's the new chick ?

[thoughtxchange2]

Not sure the word "professional" should be used when it comes to emotions and love. If he is using that word I have to question if the love was ever there.

[Seacoffee]

Don't know what the details are in this sad case. One has to doubt
the degree of concern that allows one to just walk away from four young
children. Feels like a sorry, tired, old story...... Where is the
responsibility and courage? What a self-centered jackass!

[fedup12]

that is a face only a mother could love.