REPORT Catfish couple Lauren Meler and Derek Shullenbarger break up

Less than two weeks after being featured in an engagement photo spread for People, Catfish fan-favorite couple Lauren Meler and Derek Shullenbarger have reportedly not only called off their wedding plans, but have split completely.

Lauren reportedly broke the news to followers on her private instagram account, explaining that she was going back to her son Mason’s father to try to give it another go for their son’s sake.

Derek, Lauren and Mason:

 

Lauren, now 23, and Derek, now 25, were a rare feel-good story for MTV’s popular reality show about online dating after the Texas mother of one finally got to meet her online love from Maryland and Derek turned out to be exactly as advertised.

Lauren and Derek (and her son Mason) began spending a lot of time together, and last year the excited couple revealed they were expecting their first child together. Sadly, it was revealed in September that Lauren had suffered a miscarriage and they lost their baby. But, despite the heartbreak and grief they stuck it out and were still (apparently) planning on getting married when they posed for the engagement photos taken by photographer Daysy Teixeira and featured in the People article on April 1.

 

“They’re so in love,” Teixeira told People. “I usually have to remind couples to kiss for the camera, but that was not a problem for them. They’re so passionate.”

At the time of the article, Lauren and Derek were planning on getting married at a yet-to-be-determined location between their home states of Texas and Maryland some time next year.

 

I confess I am one of the many Laurek fans devastated by the sad news. 🙁 I wish them both (and Mason) well — and we will try to update you if either confirm the split or if we get any other news, such as a new engagement for Lauren.

Until then, here’s a behind-the-scenes video of Lauren and Derek’s engagement photo shoot from photographer Daysy Teixera: