Big Brother and The Amazing Race alums Claire Rehfuss and Derek Xiao have announced they're calling it quits on their relationship after four years of dating.
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"After 4 wonderful years together, Derek and I have decided to end our relationship," the now-expired statement read, according to People.
"Nothing dramatic happened, just the realization that we're different people who want different things. We still care deeply about each other, are grateful for the time we shared, and will remain friends."
The former couple continued, "Thank you for all the love and support, it truly means so much. We hope that by sharing we can be given the space and grace to move forward without any speculation or drama."
Derek was billed as a 24-year-old start-up founder when CBS viewers first met him on Big Brother's 23rd season in 2021.
Derek, a Maryland native who lived in New York at the time of his Big Brother stint, was evicted from the Big Brother house over his close ally, Claire, on Day 51 of the game.
While Derek -- a fan-favorite who was awarded the most "BB Bucks" by viewers during his season -- didn't play the winning game he had hoped to, he didn't walk away from Big Brother totally empty-handed.
Derek memorably made a romantic connection with Claire -- an artificial intelligence engineer who was also a New York resident at the time -- in the Big Brother jury house, and the pair began dating shortly after their Big Brother season ended.
"Coming out of the Big Brother house has been overwhelming, but I'm so lucky to have had Queen Claire by my side making me smile and laugh everyday," Derek wrote on Instagram in late 2021. "I'm so excited to see what's next for us!"
Less than a year later, Derek and Claire returned to CBS to compete on The Amazing Race's 34th season and won its $1 million prize, leading to the couple moving from New York to Los Angeles together in 2022.
RELATED LINK: 'BIG BROTHER' SHOWMANCES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHICH COUPLES HAVE SPLIT UP?? (PHOTOS)
RELATED LINK: 'BIG BROTHER' SHOWMANCES NOWDerek and Claire gushed to Us Weekly about how their relationship was "so much stronger" after racing around the world.
That same year, Derek also competed on the first season of CBS' The Challenge: USA reality competition. And in December 2023, Derek served as the co-host of CBS' Big Brother Reindeer Games holiday competition.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
