Lawyer says Aniston and Vaughn a happy couple

LOS ANGELES, Oct 18 (Reuters) Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston are still a couple despite tabloid press reports to the contrary and recent photographs showing the comic actor kissing a mystery blonde, a London lawyer said.

The lawyer, Simon Smith, yesterday said he had been instructed by Vaughn to sue Britain's Sun and Mirror newspapers and the New York Post for publishing a photo of the actor ''kissing a mystery blonde whilst attending a charity event ... at London's Old Vic theatre.'' He added that the articles suggested that Vaughn was either unfaithful to Aniston, the ex-wife of movie star Brad Pitt, or that their relationship had ended.

In fact, he said, the couple's relationship was continuing and the suggestion he was being unfaithful to the former ''Friends'' star was false.

A spokesman for Vaughn confirmed that Smith was representing the actor in the legal action and that the Hollywood pair, who recently co-starred in the film ''The Break-Up,'' were still a couple off-screen.

Aniston and Vaughn had until recently gone to great lengths not to discuss or reveal their relationship, which began after her marriage to Pitt collapsed.

Reuters DKA DB1059