Todd Williamson/Gety images 
 
 Heidi Klum and Seal have officially announced they are separating after almost seven years of marriage, E! News can confirm. 
 
 After days of speculation, the couple has spoken out about the split. 
 
 So what are they saying is the cause? Here's what Klum's rep tells us... 
 
 MORE: Heidi Klum Talks Sexy Times With Seal 
 
 "While we have enjoyed seven very loving, loyal and happy years of marriage, after much soul-searching we have decided to separate," the duo says in a joint statement. "We have had the deepest respect for one another throughout our relationship and continue to love each other very much, but we have grown apart. This is an amicable process and protecting the well-being of our children remains our top priority, especially during this time of transition. We thank our family, friends, and fans for their kind words of support. And for our children¹s sake, we appreciate you respecting our privacy." 
 
 The model and Project Runway host and the singer and tied the knot May 10, 2005, after Seal popped the question to her in an igloo he built at a Canadian ski resort for the occasion. 
 
 Along with Klum's daughter Leni from an earlier relationship, the couple have three kids together, Henry, 6, Johan, 5 and Lou, 2. 
 
 PHOTOS: Heidi Klum & Seal: Romance Rewind ||||| Source: Heidi and Seal Have Not Split – Yet 
 
 Seal and Heidi Klum are not headed for divorce court just yet, a source close to them tells PEOPLE.Contrary to reports that surfaced Saturday , "They've been fighting a lot lately, but they have no plans to announce a split right now," the source says. "They're not divorcing."But they have been weathering a rough patch.According to the insider, in recent months, distance has tested the famously lovey-dovey pair On tour to promote his new album, Soul 2, Seal recently flew solo to New York to appear on Late Show with David Letterman, then to London for more commitments.Back together at their Brentwood, Calif., home on Saturday, "they seem to be doing a lot better," the source adds. "They're both wearing their wedding bands."But there's more time apart on the horizon.While Seal is due to appear this week on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Tavis Smiley – all of which tape in and around Los Angeles – Klum is expected to travel to Germany soon to work on the seventh season of Germany's Next Top Model, which premieres Feb. 23. ||||| Heidi Klum’s long, serious-looking talk with Kim Kardashian was not about Seal says a friend. 
 
 
 
 The “Project Runway” host - who issued a joint statement with her singer/songwriter husband late Sunday announcing that they have decided to separate - was observed having a pretty intense conversation with Kardashian near the end of The Weinstein Company’s post-Globes bash at Bar210 in Los Angeles on Jan. 15. 
 
 
 
 “Heidi wasn’t with Seal,” says the source, who remembers a glum-looking Klum hugging and kissing Kardashian as if they were “best friends.” 
 
 
 
 The two reality show stars became pals after being introduced by jeweler-to-the-stars Lorraine Schwartz, who attended the Golden Globes party with Kardashian. 
 
 
 
 Klum, we hear, came alone to the TWC party. “She looked so down,” says the source. “She wasn’t as bubbly as she usually was.” 
 
 
 
 After greeting each other warmly, Kardashian - who was a guest judge on “Project Runway” in July - and Klum spoke to each other for approximately 20 minutes. 
 
 
 
 Despite the festive atmosphere, our insider recalls that “both Kim and Heidi looked very serious. They weren’t laughing. Adds the source: “Maybe she was getting advice from Kim,” who filed for divorce from her 72-day husband Kris Humphries on Oct. 31. 
 
 
 
 A friend of Klum says, however, that it would be out of character for the German super model to discuss her marital woes - especially given the date of the party. 
 
 
 
 “Heidi’s camp was totally blindsided by this,” says the friend, who also point out: “She is a very private person who does not gossip with anybody about family issues or problems.” 
 
 
 
 The insider adds divorce “is not a done deal” for Klum, 38, and Seal, 48, although the statement they issued does not sound hopeful. 
 
 
 
 "While we have enjoyed seven very loving, loyal and happy years of marriage, after much soul-searching we have decided to separate. We have had the deepest respect for one another throughout our relationship and continue to love each other very much, but we have grown apart," the joint statement reads. "This is an amicable process and protecting the well-being of our children remains our top priority, especially during this time of transition. We thank our family, friends and fans for their kind words of support. And for our children's sake, we appreciate you respecting our privacy. 
 
 
 
 Klum’s reps were not available to comment on our story, and a spokeswomen for Kardashian or Seal did not respond to us by deadline. 
 
 
 
 Our first source, who knows Klum socially, won’t be surprised if Klum and Seal end up making their split permanent. 
 
 
 
 “Heidi is a super-friendly person. She’s very warm,” says the source. “Seal is not.” 
 
 The source adds that after Klum and Seal got together, the model became “more reserved and guarded” in the presence of the “Kiss From A Rose” singer. 
 
 
 
 Maybe he'll elaborate when he appears on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" and "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" this week. ||||| Heidi Klum's Father Speaks Out on Shocking Seal Split 
 
 Gunther Klum isn't happy to say auf wiedersehen to his son-in-law Seal. 
 
 Hours after Heidi Klum and Seal announced their separation after seven years of marriage together, Us Weekly spoke with Gunther Klum, father to the supermodel and Project Runway hostess, 38. 
 
 PHOTOS: Look back on Heidi and Seal in happier times 
 
 "We are very sad," German cosmetics executive Gunther told Us via phone early Monday. He added that he needed to touch base with his newly single daughter about the shocking news. 
 
 Heidi and the "Kiss from a Rose" singer, 48, share three biological children -- Henry, 6, Johan, 5, and Lou, 2, plus Klum's 7-year-old daughter from a previous relationship, Leni, whom Seal adopted in 2009. 
 
 PHOTOS: Heidi's craziest costumes ever 
 
 "While we have enjoyed seven very loving, loyal and happy years of marriage, after much soul-searching we have decided to separate. We have had the deepest respect for one another throughout our relationship and continue to love each other very much, but we have grown apart," they said in their statement, adding that the split will be an "amicable" process. 
 
 PHOTOS: Supermodel moms 
 
 "They've had a very rough road lately," a pal told Us. "They're either madly in love or having crazy fights." ||||| Heidi Klum She Couldn't Take Seal's Temper Anymore 
 
 Heidi Klum Divorce -- She Could Not Take Seal's Temper 
 
 is divorcinglargely because she has had it with his volcanic temper ... TMZ has learned.Sources directly connected with the couple tell us ... Heidi's decision to divorce Seal has nothing to do with a third person. There is NO issue of infidelity.But Seal's inability to control his anger has become too much for Heidi to take, in no small part because it's affecting their children.TMZ broke the story that Heidi will divorce Seal, and we've learned this was not a snap decision. As one source said, "It was a long time in coming."We're also told ... their careers also played a part in Heidi's decision. She has become a mega-entrepreneur and extremely rich, and that professional evolution has created a distance between them.For his part, Seal has a new album coming out and he's about to launch an international tour.We're told Heidi and Seal are still living under the same roof, but that will change very soon.Heidi's rep told PEOPLE that the couple was separating, but as TMZ first reported, Heidi wants a divorce. The couple says, "We have had the deepest respect for one another throughout our relationship and continue to love each other very much, but we have grown apart."
– The rumors are true: Despite some sources insisting Heidi Klum and Seal were not really splitting up, the couple issued a statement last night confirming the news. "While we have enjoyed seven very loving, loyal, and happy years of marriage, after much soul-searching we have decided to separate," reads the statement obtained by E!. But why? TMZ reports that it all comes down to Seal's temper. "It was a long time in coming," says a source, who adds that Seal can't control his anger and Klum didn't want to deal with it anymore. Another insider tells People that distance also made their relationship more difficult, and a friend tells Us that lately, "They're either madly in love or having crazy fights." Yet another tells New York Daily News that Klum is "super-friendly" and "warm," while "Seal is not." (Klum's father will probably be getting a talking-to: He also spoke to Us, revealing that the family is "very sad" about the split.)