Celebrity Mound

Azrouel’s close relationship with the 27-year-old celebrity chef is rumored to have played a role in her breakup last week with Billy Joel, 60, after five years of marriage. Katie and Azrouel were spotted “dirty dancing” in Miami earlier this year, and a source told Page Six that Katie frequently opted to stay in the city near Azrouel instead of hanging out with her husband on Long Island.

A rep for Joel has said her relationship with Azrouel is “absolutely unrelated” to the split, but fashion insiders say Azrouel has quite the reputation as a fashion swordsman.

“He’s been known to sleep with fashion editors who can help his career,” a source told Page Six, adding that Azrouel has had relationships with higher-ups at both W magazine and the New York Times. “He loves to have women over for small, intimate dinner parties and to play video games. That’s his big thing.”

Added another source: “Obviously, there just aren’t that many straight guys in fashion. So when one comes on the scene, everyone lines up. And Yigal is very into the social element of the business, which is why he’s always photographed on Patrick McMullan’s Web site and has a store out east,” referring to his boutique in Water Mill. Azrouel was previously linked to socialite Fernanda Niven.

Back in April, Joel’s rep told us, “Yigal is a friend of Katie’s. They have collaborated on dresses for her media appearances. They worked together to create designs. It’s a simple friend-work relationship.”

Both Azrouel and Katie Lee were invited to the Whitney’s Persol Incognito Design Exhibition preview tomorrow, though she has not confirmed her attendance. Azrouel could not be reached.

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Billy Joel’s third marriage is breaking up, but he says it’s not because his wife has been stepping out with a dashing designer.
The Piano Man and wife Katie Lee confirmed the split to the Daily News in a joint statement: “After nearly five years of marriage, Billy and Katie have decided to separate.

“This decision is the result of much thought and consideration. Billy and Katie remain caring friends, with admiration and respect for each other.”

Rumors have swirled for months that the marriage was on the rocks, with reports linking Lee, a 27-year-old chef and author, to Yigal Azrouel, a handsome 36-year-old Israeli-born fashion designer.

Sources reported seeing them dirty-dancing in Miami in January and have claimed that Azrouel referred to Lee as “my girlfriend.”

Reps for the Joels insisted that Azrouel is just a friend and that Billy, 60, was happy to skip the parties, fashion shows and fund-raisers that his younger wife enjoyed.

“Their decision to separate was absolutely unrelated to Yigal,” said Joel’s spokeswoman Claire Mercuri.

“It was really the age difference that caught up with them,” said a friend of the couple. “They grew apart. She is very career-oriented. She loves going out. She loves the city. When Billy isn’t touring, he’d rather be on Long Island with his motorcycles and boats.”

Various friends hinted at infidelity on both sides, though a longtime pal of Joel insisted “he’s always remained faithful to Katie. When he was touring with Elton John, he flew home almost every night.”

In recent weeks, Joel has been living on Long Island, where he owns mansions in Sag Harbor and Sagaponack. Lee is said to have stayed at the couple’s Greenwich Village townhouse, not far from Azrouel’s boutique.

Lee, who grew up in West Virginia, met Joel at a New York party in 2003 and they married a year later. His daughter Alexa Ray Joel, just four years younger than Katie, was maid of honor.

Joel’s nine-year marriage to model Christie Brinkley, the mother of Alexa, ended in 1994. His nine-year marriage to Elizabeth Weber went bust in 1982.

For his latest marriage, he’s believed to have a prenuptial agreement to protect the millions his many hits have made him.
Lee’s rep, Ken Sunshine, declined to comment beyond the couple’s statement.

“Billy’s doing fine,” Mercuri said. “He’s looking forward to resuming his Face 2 Face tour with Elton John.”

(source)

Katie Lee Joel may be “Movin’ Out” of hubby Billy Joel’s life.

Reports are surfacing that the brunette beauty, 27, has been cheating on her 59-year-old husband with hunky fashion designer Yigal Azrouel, 36.
“Katie and Yigal have been together for a while,” says an insider. “She goes everywhere with him. He’s into brunettes, and Katie is his right-hand woman. They’re so close that Yigal even watches Katie’s dogs when she’s away.”

Not helping is Joel’s constant touring, and the fact that the duo lead very separate lives.

“Katie often stays at their apartment in NYC alone, while Billy likes to live in their Long Island home,” another source tells us. “They’re rarely together. And Katie likes it like that. She wants her freedom.”

When the Piano Man originally heard of the “fashion designer” friend, he assumed the Israeli-born Azrouel was gay, according to The National Enquirer. Not so.

The ex-military man has “slept with several high-profile female fashion editors. It’s understandable that everyone would think he’s gay, as he’s a man of fashion in NYC, but he isn’t,” says the source.

Meanwhile, an insider told The Enquirer: “Initially, Billy thought it was great that she met a new friend. But now he’s become very concerned.”

He may have reason to be. At a recent Museum of Natural History gala, Katie turned up, sans Billy, and spent the evening with Yigal. “I love Yigal Azrouel,” she told us that night. “He’s one of my favorite [designers]. We’re good friends. He’s very easygoing.”

A week before that, the two left a USA Network’s party just a few minutes apart from one another. Katie wasn’t wearing her wedding ring, and jumped into a waiting cab that Yigal was already in, said an onlooker.

Sounds like Billy should dust off one of his old tunes to help him cope. We recommend “A Matter of Trust.”

(source)

A source tells us the stunning brunette plans to open a burger joint in Man hattan, where she’ll serve up the famous beef patties that won her the top spot at last year’s Food & Wine Festival in Brooklyn. An exact name and location haven’t been nailed down yet, but a rep confirmed that the idea is in the works.

(source)

Katie Lee Joel

Aubrey O’day (R) and her mother Kandy O’day

Ne-Yo

Kate Bosworth and Susan Sarandon

Fabiola Beracasa and Katie Lee Joel

Samantha Ronson and Lindsay Lohan

Charlotte Ronson and Lindsay Lohan

Samantha Ronson and Charlotte Ronson

Abby Manning

Beth Ostrosky

Blythe Danner

Chris Diamantopoulos and Debra Messing

Katie Lee Joel

Rachel Ray, Bobby Flay and Katie Lee Joel

Katie Lee Joel, Billy Joel and Alexa Ray Joel

Beth Ostrosky, Katie Lee Joel and Wendi Murdoch

John Cusimano, Rachel Ray, Colby Donaldson and Katie Lee Joel