Pete Wicks quit TOWIE after eight years following rows with co-stars he dubbed 'fake and fame hungry', it has been reported.
The show legend, 34, confirmed last month he was leaving the ITVBe show to focus on other work commitments.
In his statement, Pete added that: "Through the ups and downs, and everything in between, one thing remains the same ... TOWIE and the people connected to the show are all family."
However, like all families, it seems there was tension within the TOWIE cast, with Pete saying in the past that cast members have refused to film with him.
And now it's been reported that he thought some of the cast were just after fame and weren't authentic.
A source told The Sun: “Pete wasn't getting on great with some members of the cast as he thought a lot of them were just fame-hungry and not very authentic, especially some of the newer members of the show.
They went on: "By the same token, a lot of the cast felt like Pete acted as if he was over it and above the rest of them, so they were relieved when he announced he was leaving."
Pete has been open about his rifts with certain cast members, speaking about it on the popular Saving Grace podcast in December.
The Celebs Go Dating veteran, who hosts his own podcast with good friend Sam Thompson, said: "I don’t actually get on with all of the cast of the cast. Over the years a lot of people have refused to film with me.
"I am exactly the same off camera to on camera. The majority of them are not. Because they are all fake f***s."
In the Staying Relevant podcast, he told former Made in Chelsea star Sam: "Get it right. I’m not barred.
"You have to say it right because that makes it sound like the show have banned me.
"No, they have refused to film with me. So no one is barred or banned, they could if they wanted to but they don’t want to.
"So ITV Towie have not barred me from filming with people or banned me from filming with people, they just don’t want to film with me, which is worse actually because it effectively means no one likes me, which is understandable.”
Although Pete has bid farewell to TOWIE for now, he said he could return "every now and then".
In his statement, he said: "As much as I am excited to move into a new chapter in my life, I will sincerely miss filming every day with the cast and crew!"
Teasing about the future, he concluded: "Don't stress though, you may still see me pop-up every now and then, I will always be part of the TOWIE (highly dysfunctional) family."
The Mirror has approached Pete and ITV for comment.
