In a joint social media statement, Vicki Gunvalson, Bravo star, age 53, and boyfriend Brooks Ayers have announced that they are splitting up after four years.

"After much prayer, thought, counseling, and consideration, we have decided to end our four year relationship," the couple wrote. "We both wish nothing but a great future for each other."

The couple continued in their statement, "We have come to realize that one can indeed love someone in their heart, but that the time may come for their lives to take separate paths. Though the remaining episodes of Season 10 of The Real Housewives of Orange County will show us as a couple, the filming took place in January 2015 through May 2015. There will be no further statements or interviews regarding our relationship as we choose to move on with our lives."

Finally, the couple asked for privacy, "Though we choose to live our lives in the public eye we thank you for your understanding and ask [for] privacy during this difficult time."

The relationship had not always been smooth sailing. The couple has had a history of being on-again, off-again, with the biggest split being in 2013.

They subsequently got back together again in 2014 when they got the news that Ayers had stage 3 cancer. At that time, Ayers moved into Gunvalson's home in Orange County.

Some family members and friends of Gunvalson have not approved of the couple, either, especially Briana Culberson, Gunvalson's daughter.

"Briana and I, we've kind of agreed to disagree on this one subject", Gunvalson stated about her daughter's opposition to the coupling. Gunvalson's closest friend Tamra Judge also was not too keen on Ayers.

Gunvalson has had a bad year - while filming season 10 of The Real Housewives of Orange County, she collapsed at the news of her mother's passing.

The Real Housewives of Orange County airs on Bravo every Monday (9 pm ET).