After nearly a year of rumors, Katie Price (aka Jordan) and husband Peter Andre have officially called it quits. And the publicity-ravenous couple has, of course, asked you to please respect their privacy during this trying time. Even though they documented every excruciating detail of their lives on their reality show, including their marital troubles. Now they’d like you to stay the hell away. My empathy grows weaker.

Katie Price and Peter Andre have ended their marriage after four years, her spokesperson announced today. The break-up ends months of speculation surrounding the pair, who have documented their at times tumultuous relationship on their own ITV reality series, most recently titled Katie and Peter: Stateside.

The pair were last seen together on Saturday night, where they emerged from London’s popular Nobu restaurant hand-in-hand.

Until now, both had vigorously denied persistent rumours of marital discord and in recent weeks they even discussed plans to try for another baby.

A statement read: ‘Peter Andre and Katie Price are separating after four and a half years of marriage, Can Associates Limited can confirm today.

‘They have both requested that the media respect their families’ privacy at this difficult time.’

Katie previously said infidelity would be the only force that would drive them apart. She told OK! magazine in October: ‘I wouldn’t [leave him]. It would only be if he cheated on me. I think that’s the same for both of us – there’s nothing else that would make us break up – only if one of us was unfaithful.’

[From the Daily Mail]

Considering they were holding hands leaving a restaurant two days ago, it makes you wonder how long Katie and Peter have been faking it. If they were faking a happy relationship one day and divorcing 48 hours later, it stands to reason that they might have been faking it for a long, long time. Especially given that rumors have been persisting about their unsteady relationship for nearly as long as their show’s been on the air. Katie admitted last fall that she walked out on Peter after a fight and they didn’t speak for days. And in nearly every article written about them over the last year, there’s been a mention of problems. It’s really no surprise and somehow I can imagine them both cheating.

It seems like Katie and Peter can be pretty dramatic at times, which doesn’t bode well in terms of an amicable divorce. And they have children – Katie has a son, Harvey, who has special needs. While he’s not Peter’s child, they’ve been said to be close. It’ll be interesting to see how this all plays out – hopefully they’ll surprise us and approach this with relative maturity.

Here are Katie and Peter leaving Nobu in London on Saturday. Images thanks to BauerGriffinOnline.