Heidi Montag

Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag's split is all a big lie, according to some friends (yes, they have some) and family member close to the plastic pairing.

So who's telling the truth?

According to sources cited by Us, Heidi and Spencer fabricated their split in a desperate attempt to stay famous as The Hills wraps up its final season.

Adds an insider, "Heidi and Spencer are laughing over it and having a blast." Even Heidi's sister, Holly Montag, Twittered that the couple are "liars."

That wouldn't surprise THG one bit if it were a complete sham, but TMZ broke the story, "blindsiding" Heidi, whose rep confirmed the separation.

What gives?

HOAX PERPETRATORS? Speidi checks THG to see if we're buying it.

Heidi's new/old BFF Jen Bunney says she and Heidi are doing a single-girls reality show and Heidi only waited to leave Spencer because of The Hills.

"She waited for The Hills to be over to split. Now she doesn't have to pretend," Bunney says, adding that Speidi rejected a fake divorce Hills plot.

But others say the two are simply in publicity-seeking panic mode. Speidi's breakup "is the latest part of Spencer's master plan," an insider says.

Even Bunney says there are no divorce papers filed, and hints at a reunion on their show: "That will be a big aspect ... how Spencer handles it."

This whole Speidi split is ...

Take this with a grain of salt ... but then again, you likely took the original story with a boulder of salt: Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag's split may be fake.

According to one report, Spencer dropped into Malibu to visit his "estranged" wife earlier this week, perhaps outing their sham separation in the process.

Sources say Spencer Pratt showed up Wednesday at Heidi’s million-dollar beachside hideaway with Jen Bunney, just days after the couple's big breakup.

What he received was far from an icy reception, as well.

“Heidi and Spencer are obviously on speaking terms,” dished a source, claiming the split's not legit. “I'd be surprised if he isn’t even living at the house."

BLOWING SMOKE: Is Speidi just effing with us? [Photo: PacificCoastNewsOnline.com]

It was reported by TMZ last week that the fame-hungry Speidi was splitting up, and perhaps because it came from that site and not the plastic pair, it appeared real.

“There are so many lies out there about me and I just needed space – even away from my husband,” Heidi said, confirming the so-called split a few days after the fact.

This being Speidi, however, suspicions were aroused immediately. Heidi’s swift new living arrangements seemed awfully well planned, as did this hilarious photo shoot.

Minutes after the supposed break-up, Heidi confirmed she was moving in with her pal Jennifer Bunney to film an upcoming reality show about their "girl time." Really.

Yesterday, Spencer surfaced for the first time and was either blindsided by the whole charade or does a much better job of playing along than we gave him credit for.

Speidi's breakup is ...

Spencer Pratt issued his first comments on his separation from Heidi Montag yesterday, but that's almost less noteworthy than his mountain man militia garb.

No word on whether Spencer is training for or why he wore heavy gear, a walkie talkie and a water bottle in the middle of the L.A. metro area, but no matter.

Speaking to TMZ for the first time since his split with Heidi Montag, the man seemed rather out of his element, like he'd finally met a story he couldn't control.

At one point, Spencer Pratt even uttered two foreign words - no comment - when asked about the separation. He says Heidi moved out and he's in the dark.

When and if he's served divorce papers, Spencer says he'll have an opinion on the subject. For now, he learns about Heidi from the media, just like we do.

MALIBU MILITIA: Spencer Pratt looks to be training for some form of combat as he sprints down a trail. Lose the hat, man. [Photo: PacificCoastNewsOnline.com]

The bearded, ring-clad 26-year-old did say that Heidi is still his ideal mate, and hopes for a reconciliation after time apart. But will her new show change his mind?

Spencer insinuated that Jennifer Bunney is using Montag to get famous, and that if their new "girl time" show involves them going to clubs trolling for guys? Well ...

A man's gotta move on at some point. You can tell from his video interview that for once in his life, he doesn't know what to say. Makes one think the split is real.

Flanked by an unnamed friend, Spencer also claims he's running out of cash, but at least his credit cards still work. Hang in there, man. We're all pulling for you.

Whose side are you on?

The breakup of Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt has been widely reported and confirmed by her rep, but neither star of The Hills had commented personally.

Until now.

"I needed some alone time," says Montag of reports that she moved out of the Pacific Palisades, Calif., home she shared with Spencer, to People magazine.

"I just needed space – even from my husband. I had to get away from the lies my family and supposed friends are saying about me," adds Heidi Montag.

"It's time to concentrate on myself."

SO ALONE ... except for the celebrity news photographer.

The reality star says she plans on spending the summer clearing her head and getting in some much need girl time with pal and new roommate Jen Bunney.

Their summer of self-love will be captured by reality TV cameras, natch.

As for her future with Spencer Pratt, it's a work in progress: "I've always loved Spencer," says his plastic princess, "but right now we're working on things."

Something else she's working on? Trying to set the record for cheesiest, most hilariously staged photo shoot in history. This one is up there with the best.

Here's Heidi Montag pouting and missing Spencer. Here's Heidi pet her dogs - they won't leave her! Here's Heidi and Jen Bunney having a riveting chat.

Reflecting on life by the reflecting pool ... so deep. Or shallow, in more ways than one? Either way, it's LOL material. Click to enlarge the images below ...

Ever since it was reported over the weekend, The Hills fans and celebrity gossip readers across the world began pondering the obvious question:

Is Heidi and Spencer Pratt's shocking breakup for real?

Yes, says Heidi's rep, who confirms the separation, effective early last week, to Us Weekly, but explains that nothing legal has been filed ... yet.

"Heidi is going through a difficult time and hopes people respect her privacy," the rep hilariously says, as if Heidi ever sought privacy in her life.

A friend says the Heidi Montag-Spencer Pratt split was her idea, though "there are no plans for divorce. They are going through issues. It's a hiccup."

The source claims Speidi was blindsided by TMZ's Friday report, which divulged that the 'Tag was moving out. Controlling the press no more!

DONE FOR ... now. Will Speidi reconcile? [Photo: PacificCoastNewsOnline.com]

"She was bummed that it came out," the pal says. Heidi, who's said to be moving in with Jen Bunney, "wanted things to be more settled first."

The Bunney, an aspiring doctor who's in a long-distance relationship, will also be filming the world's worst reality show with Heidi ... supposedly.

Together, their lives' "huge turning points" will be featured, Jen says. "Is [Heidi] going to be a single, independent woman or stay with Spencer?"

"We know fame is fleeting, and that fame is not going to support us for the rest of our lives. We need to make smart decisions right now."

Wait ... Jennifer Bunney is supported by fame now?

The recently-resurfaced, one-time minor Hills player also says Heidi felt an obligation to the MTV show to stick it out until the show wrapped.

Otherwise, she might have left Spencer earlier. According to Bunney, Heidi has not made up her mind on whether she'll divorce her hubby.

Stay tuned. And pick your side:

Friday, THG readers were given the task of writing the best caption for a photo of Heidi Montag at the gun range, with raw focus and seriousness in her eyes.

Your winner for this edition of our Caption Contest is siri.

Congratulations! Who would have guessed Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt would split just hours after we posted this. The winning caption appears below.

Honorable mentions go to Laurel and Celeb00. Follow the above link for all entries sent in. Thank you to everyone for playing and good luck next time!

I'm not Heidi Pratt, I'm Heidi Montag!!

There's one person on the planet happier about Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt's break-up than Heidi's mom: Jennifer Bunney.

The reason? Because now you've heard of Jennifer Bunney. Unfortunately, you'll be hearing a lot more from her, too. Starting now.

Asked about her pal's split from Spencer, Bunny told Us Weekly that the couple is "going through some issues... I don't think you move in with your friend if your marriage is completely cruising along. If things are great, you don't move out and move in with your friend."

Well, you do if you're an attention-starved fame whore whose relationship with Pratt has run its course in the view of the public and the tabloids.

Over the weekend, Heidi Tweeted that she's gonna have the "best summer of my life," move in with Bunney and film a reality show. What will it focus on? Said Jennifer:

"The show will depict who we really are, without the producers trying to create situations. We want it to be different from The Hills."

Hilariously, Bunney claims to be an aspiring doctor and told the magazine this series will capture "huge turning points" in the lives of her and Montag. Cue pre-written tease!

"Is [Heidi] going to be a single, independent woman or is she going to stay with Spencer? We know fame is fleeting, fame is not going to support us for the rest of our lives. We need to make smart decisions right now."

Some might say Montag has already done so, ditching Pratt. Others might point to the fact that Spencer's reaction to the break-up will be a "big aspect of the show" (according to Bunney) and believe this is all another Speidi-sponsored PR stunt.

On which side to you think THG falls?

The not entirely shocking break-up of Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt has yet to generate a formal response - or even a trademark Tweet - from the latter.

Some decry the news as another PR stunt, but TMZ broke the story citing close sources, including Heidi's own rep, saying things had been crumbling of late.

Stunt or not, it looks like she's moving on.

"This is going to be the best summer of my life!!!!" Heidi Tweeted, and an old pal / The Hills co-star claims the 'Tag's summer plans are already in place.

"Heidi and I are moving into a Malibu beach house this summer," said Jen Bunney, who adds that she and Heidi Montag will be filming a new reality show.

“We're really excited to do girly things and show people who we really are, that we're really fun, sweet and loyal girls." So loyal you ditch your husband?

Jen Bunney added that Speidi are not "legally" separated, but "she is moving in with me. It's just her being able to have some freedom from marriage."

Sounds like a separation to us ... we think. Even though Heidi recently proclaimed she has no friends, it looks like she has at least one. A good one, too.

“Our show is going to focus on our friendship, getting through things with each other like marriage stuff and boyfriend stuff," adds the Bunney, rivetingly.

Friday, Heidi's rep said she was moving out "due to all the fake bad press that Spencer Pratt controls" and "wants to focus on her acting career" alone.

Probably for the best. Things were getting bad.

The couple hired ex-Marines to guard their L.A. home, spent $400,000 on healing crystals and even called the cops on Heidi's mom, Darlene Egelhoff.

Whose side are you on?

Heidi Montag has separated from Spencer Pratt, and from all indications, it's not the publicity stunt you probably assumed it was when you read the headline.

"Heidi is looking to move out due to all the fake bad press that Spencer controls," her rep told TMZ. "She's tired of it and wants to focus on her acting career."

Reports say Heidi Montag is looking for a new place to live in Malibu.

Things have grown particularly tense and erratic for Speidi lately, even by The Hills stars' exalted standards, culminating in Spencer calling the cops on her mom.

That was just one incident in a relationship defined by turmoil. Says a friend of Heidi's on the building tension between them: "It wasn't just a sudden thing."

Wow, this puts a whole new spin on the THG Caption Contest too ...

Heidi and Spencer in happier times. [Photo: PacificCoastNewsOnline.com]

Other sources close to the pair say Heidi Montag is pulling the plug on her marriage primarily because Spencer Pratt has taken away her friends and family.

Well, yeah. Four years late on that realization, H?

Heidi has been complaining bitterly that Spencer is so controlling he's isolated her from all those close to her. But the final straw came earlier this month.

That's when Spencer called the cops on Darlene Egelhoff, Heidi's mom, when she arrived at their house. Heidi stood by her husband at first ... no longer.

Meanwhile, Montag wants to break into acting but says people in Hollywood don't want to work with her because she has "a loose cannon of a husband."

She and a friend are renting a beach house for now. As Heidi herself puts it, "I want more girl time. This is going to be the best summer of my life!!!!!!"

She also Tweeted earlier in the week, before reports of the pair's split surfaced: "I am not Heidi Pratt, I am Heidi Montag." So telling. So deep. So profound.

Spencer has yet to comment, which is extremely unusual for him. Dude hasn't even Tweeted since May 25! But we gotta ask ... whose side are you on?

Welcome to another edition of The Hollywood Gossip Caption Contest. Here's a challenge for our readers: Come up with the best caption(s) or the  pic below!

Our subject: Heidi Montag. At the gun range.

What could The Hills star be saying/doing? You tell us! Just click "Comments" and send your caption(s), as many as you like. We'll announce the winner Tuesday.

Give it your best shot (har har) ...