Spencer Pratt

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?

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:

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?

BRING BACK THE BUNNEY: Heidi Montag reportedly will - to life and TV.

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?

Heidi Montag really wants to star in the upcoming Transformers 3.

The events seen on this week's Lost finale will come true before that happens, but her lobbying for the role resulted in an excuse to post these pics, so we'll permit it.

Speaking of permits, hopefully she and Spencer Pratt have proper documentation for those guns. No, really, they are packing serious heat at the shooting range.

We'll think twice before dissing them next time (not really) ...

EXHIBITS A & B: Of why our nation needs an assault weapons ban.

In an effort to land the movie role vacated by Megan Fox, the 23-year-old Hills star posted a 30-second video clip of her shooting skills on her Facebook page.

Heidi turns to the camera and says, “This is for you, Michael Bay,” before moving around a firing range hitting targets ... from just a few feet away. Amazing.

While you'd probably rather look at Megan Fox pictures than Heidi Montag pictures, the former hasn't brought along the paparazzi to the firing range lately.

That we know of, anyway. Anyway, click to enlarge these hilarious Speidi pics:

[Photos: PacificCoastNewsOnline.com]

This season on The Hills, Spencer Pratt has gone completely off the deep end, declaring that he doesn't allow wife Heidi Montag to watch TV or go online.

Still, Heidi's dad, Bill Montag, isn't too worried. Why? "Heidi is such a strong-willed individual that I don't think that Spencer is going to manipulate her."

Clearly Bill doesn't watch The Hills, despite once being on it.

"Also I think she knows, and so does Spencer: if I thought my daughter was in any harm's way with Spencer, I would be there," adds her cowboy dad.

Still, Bill is concerned about Heidi, who ceased communication with her father in March and changed her phone "so I can't even reach her," he says.

Spencer Pratt and Bill Montag on The Hills.

"I think they'll realize there are people that love them and care for them and friends and family," he says. "I pray for them to find peace and happiness. They're not going to find it in crystals and light and all this stuff I've read about."

LOL. Good to see he's keeping up on celebrity gossip.

The Colorado rancher - who divorced Heidi's mom, Darlene Egelhoff, when Heidi was 3, has mixed feelings about his daughter's plastic surgery binge.

"I've always thought that Heidi always looked like me, and [her sister Holly Montag] looks like her mom," Bill jokes. "I remember Heidi saying in a magazine once that she didn't want my nose, so I gave her grief about that!"

Montag feels like he "let her down" because he wasn't aware she was unhappy enough to change her appearance, but he still supports her decision.

"We don't always approve of everything our children do, but we support them and we're there for them ... She doesn't need a lecture about the whole thing. The only thing I can say is we're there and we're her family. She and I were very close."

Spencer Pratt is out of control. We've known this for some time at THG, but now it has gotten to the point where even his friends and family see he is losing it.

Last night's episode of The Hills, "This is Goodbye," focused on Heidi's husband's deteriorating mental health, as well as Brody and Kristin's renewed romance.

Here's The Hollywood Gossip's official Hills rundown, plus-minus style:

Holly and Stephanie lament being the only sane ones left in their families. Never mind that both of them have serious, well-publicized drinking issues. Plus 9.

After Holly rehashes how Spencer called the cops on Heidi's mom, Steph says Speidi has no friends. Charlie is rolling in his grave as we speak. Minus 4.

Heidi and Kristin are friends? Were they always? Hard to keep track. Plus 3.

Spencer looks like he needs a hug.

"Who am I without Spencer?" Heidi ponders. Hmm. Probably a reasonably cute, harmless, not brainwashed chick with friends and real-looking breasts. Minus 37.

Audrina Patridge visits her boyfriend Ryan Cabrera at the studio. He's apparently still under contract? Minus 2. But Plus 8 for his decision to skip that night's drama.

Venturing out of his hole for once, Spencer calls Audrina the "lamest girl in the club" which sparks an argument between himself and Brody. Like old times. Plus 5.

Heidi Montag has a threefold excuse for Spencer: 1. He has stuff on his mind (Minus 3). 2. All guys are controlling (Minus 6). 3. She changed herself (Minus 12).

Most awkward clubbing moments ever: Heidi Montag shows her crystals collection to Kristin as Spencer says Heidi doesn't watch TV or use the computer. Plus 20.

OMG, Brody and Kristin are, like, so meant to be ... but single!

Holly and Stephanie say they are done with Heidi and Spencer, while Kristin Cavallari and Brody Jenner get down on the floor and eventually leave together. Plus 9.

The next day, Kristin says what they have going is good, whatever it is. Brody says he likes being single, and Kristin does too. Holla at friends with benefits! Plus 18.

Obligatory Lo scene! Steph says that she is flipping between being angry and sad over Heidi and Spencer. Blah, blah, blah. Stephanie and Lo are so boring. Minus 7.

The girls all are told by MTV agree to completely cut off Mr. and Mrs. Spencer Pratt. No communication at all. Plus 5 for effort, but we give it about half an episode.

TOTAL: +4. SEASON: +55. Basically, it was an episode in which everyone agrees Speidi is insane, and Brody macked on Kristin. Boilerplate stuff, but we'll take it.

Earlier this week, Brody Jenner noted that Spencer Pratt is losing it.

You knew The Hills villian wasn't about to accept this and move on.

"I saw that tattoo that he got," Pratt says of his former best friend's newest tattoo, which reads simply "F**K." "He should just add -ing idiot to it!"

Brody said in a recent radio interview that Pratt "just wants attention." Spencer's reply: "You've only dated famous girls for the past 6 years and I'm the attention whore? [Kristin] Cavallari to LC [Lauren Conrad] to Lindsay Lohan to Avril Lavigne?"

Lindsay Lohan?

Pratt had harsh words for Lavigne: "Avril? She was famous in what, the 90s? We were in 7th grade when her song came out, I think, you foolio."

Brody Jenner and Spencer Pratt's childhood bromance seems like ages ago, as they're locked in a bitter war of lame insults. [Photos: PacificCoastNewsOnline.com]

In addition to Jenner's girlfriend, the high-strung husband of Heidi Montag also ripped Jenner's high-profile partying: "Honestly, Brody, I'm worried about you."

"You're the one showing up to all these events wasted. Maybe you need crystal therapy to sober up. Connect with nature and not the bottle, you drunk!"

LOL. Spencer and his stupid crystals. Those things clearly worked wonders yesterday when he called the effing cops on Darlene Egelhoff, Heidi's mother.

Brody's not the only one worried about the now-isolated pair.

"He could snap at any time," a source says of Spencer Pratt.

"Seriously, the dude has huge rage issues. Whenever he feels threatened in even the smallest way, he just lashes out. I've seen it. It's scary."

On The Hills Tuesday night, Spencer Pratt threatened to call the cops on Holly Montag if his wife's sister didn't leave his property. Idle threat? Apparently not!

Police were dispatched to Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag's home just hours ago after the couple called for help, saying Heidi's mother was refusing to leave.

Heidi confirmed this to TMZ: "My mom just showed up to the house unannounced ... after what she did to me on national TV, I have no desire to see her."

Montag is referring to a recent episode of The Hills in which Darlene Egelhoff said point blank that she did not approve of her daughter's plastic surgeries.

This week, Spencer claimed Darlene "tried to rape Heidi emotionally" and called her "just a vagina" who brought Heidi into the world, but is not special.

Heidi Montag is done with her mom's emotional abuse!

Heidi notified her personal security team when her mom showed up "pounding on the door." Darlene spoke with the police but has now left the premises.

She continues, "Her showing up is completely out of line and psychotic. I’m getting a restraining order against her." No arrests were made in the incident.

Los Angeles Police Department Sgt. Leffew said:

"Officers arrived on the scene and advised the mother that since her daughter is an adult, she doesn't have to speak to [the mom] if she doesn't want to. The mother said 'fine, no problem' and left. There were no citations or arrests."

Heidi Montag promises this isn't the end of all the drama: "I made it very clear that I want nothing to do with her in my life right now," she tells People.

"I'm sick to my stomach she would even do something like this. She needs to stay away from me. I’m planning on getting a restraining order against her."

Heidi Montag's mom, Darlene Egelhoff, isn't smiling right now.