The big issue around the internet is that actress/singer Katharine McPhee is cheating on her husband.

TMZ has posted photos of the former American Idol runner up kissing, cuddling and openly holding hands with director Michael Morris. Morris was her director in the defunct NBC TV series "Smash."

The scandalous and illicit affair apparently lost its fire when Life & Style Magazine published an exclusive story which said that Katharine McPhee, 29, and her husband of five years are already separated. Nick Cokas, 47, an actor and music producer met McPhee before she joined Idol and they were engaged in 2007 and eventually married in 2008. They have no children.

Life & Style quotes their source as a close friend of the couple. The statement: "They've been separated for six months," a friend tells Life & Style. "Nick continues to co-manage her music."

Earlier this year, McPhee was asked on why they don't have children yet, to which she replied: ""I once thought that by now I'd have lots of children, but actually I'm really enjoying being able to go from point A to point B and the only worry I have is have my dogs been walked. I'm selfish right now, but that's how and where I should be. The thing is, work is the thing I love the most."

She even added: "Nick is the love of my life. This is a once in a lifetime occasion and everything is just perfect."Life takes a quick reversal, though and now she's locking lips with someone else.

Yet, the story doesn't end just yet. Director Michael Morris is married to Mary McCormack, also an actress. The status of their marriage is not yet publicly determined.  They have been married for 10 years and have three children.

No statements from McPhee or Morris regarding the photos have been released.