Heidi Montag has confirmed recent reports that she has separated from husband Spencer Pratt.

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"Heidi is going through a difficult time and hopes people respect her privacy," The Hills star's representative told Us Weekly in a Monday report, adding that nothing legal has been filed.

A friend of Montag's told Us that the couple parted ways early last week and added it was Montag who initiated the split by moving out.

"There are no plans for divorce," the friend told Us. "They are going through some issues. It's a hiccup."

In addition, the source claimed that Montag and Pratt -- who wed last April -- were "blindsided" by TMZ's Friday report that the couple had separated.

"She was bummed that it came out," the friend told Us. "She wanted things to be more settled first."

The reason for the separation, according to the source, was due to Montag's realization that Pratt was controlling certain aspects of her life.

"Heidi loves Spencer but she had lost contact with her friends and family," the friend told Us. "She started to realize what she was missing."

Montag friend Jennifer Bunney told RadarOnline in a late Friday report that The Hills star will be living with her this summer to film a new reality series.

"Heidi and I are moving into a Malibu beach house this summer," Bunney told RadarOnline.

"We're really excited to do girly things and show people who we really are and that we're really fun, sweet and loyal girls."

Bunney added that Montag and Pratt are "not legally" separated.

"But, she is moving in with me," she told RadarOnline. "It's just her being able to have some freedom from marriage and for us to work on our friendship and focus on things we want to focus on."

Bunney said she was "portrayed in a really bad light" when she was on The Hills and added "so was Heidi."

"So we've bonded over that," she told RadarOnline. "I knew her before The Hills and our friendship is real and we're so excited about what is next."

The new reality series will also feature Pratt, according to RadarOnline, which added it is set to begin production in July and will most likely air in the fall.

"The show is going to focus on our friendship, getting through things with each other like marriage stuff and boyfriend stuff," Bunney told RadarOnline.

Even before The Hills' sixth season premiered in April, a promo for it featured Montag talking about divorce and emotionally explaining that it would be "really hard" for her to "leave" Pratt.

Both Montag and Pratt subsequently denied they were splitting.
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