Former Net star Richard Jefferson admitted yesterday that he told his beautiful bride-to-be that their wedding was off in an e-mail -- stunning her just days before their planned posh nuptials.

Kesha Ni'Cole Nichols got the heart-wrenching message after a tense Fourth of July weekend, Jefferson told The Post.

"There was a lot of stress and tension in the relationship. We've been through a lot -- but we just couldn't continue," said Jefferson, sounding upset during a telephone interview.

But at least Nichols got a nice parting gift -- Jefferson, who was traded from the Milwaukee Bucks to the San Antonio Spurs last month, said he's giving her a "six-figure" settlement so she can start a new life.

"I won't say a negative word about Kesha. She is one of my best friends," said Jefferson, who courted for nearly five years.

He said things came to a head when they celebrated July 4 in LA, a week before their planned July 11 wedding at the luxurious Mandarin Oriental on Columbus Circle.

After Nichols boarded a plane back to New York the next day, Jefferson said, he sent her the devastating e-mail.

"Sometimes you might write an e-mail to get your thoughts down right," he explained.

After Nichols -- and the message -- arrived in New York, the couple spoke by phone for two hours, Jefferson said.

"It was a conversation Kesha and I had," he said, adding only that it was "a combination of things" that led to the split.

Jefferson said they haven't spoken in a week.

"It's been an emotional time for both of us," he said. "I know she's hurt. I'm hurt, too."

The couple had planned to top off their $500,000 wedding with a honeymoon in London, where they had tickets to one of the Michael Jackson comeback shows.

Of the money he's giving Nichols, Jefferson said, "I'm not trying to buy her off. She has a lump sum to help her move on."

He added, "I've made my mistakes in this relationship, 100 percent. But at the end of the day, there were some people who were responsible for the demise of it."

He insisted a rumor he's gay had nothing to do with the breakup.

"I'm not gay," Jefferson said. "That couldn't be any further from the truth. I have nothing to hide."

Nichols could not be reached.

On July 6, Jefferson told his family the wedding was off.

Kesha told her family and friends the next day, he said.

Because some out-of-town guests were already in, or en route to, New York, they decided to go through with a dinner that was supposed to have been part of the wedding celebration, Jefferson said.

The jilted bride, a former Net dancer, checked into the Mandarin and spent what would have been her wedding night in a luxury suite. A fellow dancer pal of Kesha, Keltie Colleen, wrote on her blog that Nichols was "going through some serious grief."

None of Jefferson's family made the trip. "My family didn't take this well. I'm the last one not to have married," said Jefferson, the son of Christian missionaries. "My family was looking forward to me starting a family of my own." Jefferson flew to Paris last week with some basketball buddies. He went "only because I care about her so much that I didn't want to change my mind after those emails were sent," he said. "I didn't want to start missing her and decide, 'let's do this."' "It's so crazy, the divorce rate out there," Jefferson added. "If you aren't 100 percent certain about something, you shouldn't do it."

Additional reporting by Neel Shah and Amber Sutherland

jeane.macintosh@nypost.com

__________________
"Love all, trust a few. Do wrong to none.
William Shakespeare, "All's Well That Ends Well", Act 1 Scene 1
Greatest English dramatist & poet (1564 - 1616)

Disappointment is inevitable but Misery is optional

You can use technology to do almost everything these days so I guess why not? At least it was a text?! Nonsense!

__________________
"Love all, trust a few. Do wrong to none.
William Shakespeare, "All's Well That Ends Well", Act 1 Scene 1
Greatest English dramatist & poet (1564 - 1616)

Disappointment is inevitable but Misery is optional

This guys is jerk! I saw him some year back when he played for the Nets on 14th street. I have met a lot of sport athletes and celebrities and you can just tell when someone is "lousy"... He was a f-ing lousy guy. I bet he is gay!

Totally f-ing loser...

__________________
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"We in the Nazi killing business. And cousin, business is booming!"
Lt. Aldo Raine (played by Brad Pitt in Inglourious Basterds )

The gay cloud has supposedly been hovering around his head which he has denied. I couldn't believe it, more than a louse, he is a PUNK!!! People call off marriages all the time but at least tell the chick to her face.

FIVE YEARS AND DUMPED OVER AN EMAIL MESSAGE? That is just cold, man! If she takes him back, I go dey shocked...heck, that money sef me personally I wouldn't take it. That is insult upon injury.

__________________
"Love all, trust a few. Do wrong to none.
William Shakespeare, "All's Well That Ends Well", Act 1 Scene 1
Greatest English dramatist & poet (1564 - 1616)

Disappointment is inevitable but Misery is optional

I totally agree! Imagine! She should hire Tanya Harding to go break his knee caps! Nonesense and email!

__________________
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"We in the Nazi killing business. And cousin, business is booming!"
Lt. Aldo Raine (played by Brad Pitt in Inglourious Basterds )

I agree with you on that. He courted her for five years and na email he take dump her. When he wanted some toto did he email her He should write that cashier's check fast fast

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Ms. NaijaRules 2008

Endless Hope Is Better Than A Hopeless End

Faith first, family second and career third.
my marykay site
marykay blog

Tanya go finish his career see wetin she do Nancy and where is Nancy today

__________________
Ms. NaijaRules 2008

Endless Hope Is Better Than A Hopeless End

Faith first, family second and career third.
my marykay site
marykay blog

NTB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

__________________
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"We in the Nazi killing business. And cousin, business is booming!"
Lt. Aldo Raine (played by Brad Pitt in Inglourious Basterds )

lol! Sid! this ur statement got me rolling. Tanya will surely do a great job there. The guy is just CHICKEN!!

__________________
"Even the Life that We have is Borrowed cause We are not Promised Tomorrow"

My sista, I go put Tanya on speed dial quick-quick!

__________________
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"We in the Nazi killing business. And cousin, business is booming!"
Lt. Aldo Raine (played by Brad Pitt in Inglourious Basterds )

I lie? He knew how to ask for it
Baby, I want some
Honey I want that thing

U be man so tell us how you de ask ur wife for some. Have you ever sent her email asking for it

__________________
Ms. NaijaRules 2008

Endless Hope Is Better Than A Hopeless End

Faith first, family second and career third.
my marykay site
marykay blog

ABI O! Tell it, girl!!!

__________________
"Love all, trust a few. Do wrong to none.
William Shakespeare, "All's Well That Ends Well", Act 1 Scene 1
Greatest English dramatist & poet (1564 - 1616)

Disappointment is inevitable but Misery is optional

I neva use email ask o!!

Seriously, there is no way this is cool on any level..

__________________
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"We in the Nazi killing business. And cousin, business is booming!"
Lt. Aldo Raine (played by Brad Pitt in Inglourious Basterds )

He should just stop with the long grammar and write that check.

__________________
Ms. NaijaRules 2008

Endless Hope Is Better Than A Hopeless End

Faith first, family second and career third.
my marykay site
marykay blog

I am way toooooooo proud o, I no for take am. I would rather eat sand with salt and pepper before I would take that money from him. He may say he is not trying to buy her but that's what it's tantamount to, how much for each year, eh? How much for her time, energy, emotions? I wouldn't take it. He must think he can throw money at everything and everyone. Some women would say, heck take the money and go do something nice for yourself for your time with the bastard but my pride just wouldn't let me.

__________________
"Love all, trust a few. Do wrong to none.
William Shakespeare, "All's Well That Ends Well", Act 1 Scene 1
Greatest English dramatist & poet (1564 - 1616)

Disappointment is inevitable but Misery is optional