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Brooks Ayers claims Bravo insisted his cancer battle be central to Real Housewives Of Orange County or Vicki Gunvalson's part would be 'reduced'

Published: 22:11 EST, 19 October 2015 | Updated: 01:32 EST, 20 October 2015

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Brooks Ayers claims Bravo execs pressured his now ex-girlfriend Vicki Gunvalson to make his cancer battle a central part of The Real Housewives Of Orange County.

''In December, Vicki had not yet signed for the season,' Ayers said in an interview broadcast on E! News on Monday. 'She was basically told, "Honey, if you don’t film your total reality with Brooks dealing with cancer, we’re going to reduce your role."'

He added, ‘I did it for her.'

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Revelations: Brooks Ayers told his side of the story in an interview with E! News claiming that his controversial cancer battle was included in Real Housewives of Orange County at the network's insistence

Gunvalson revealed to the other cast members in January on camera that the businessman had been diagnosed several months previously with stage 3 Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

But as the season wore on, the Housewives turned on Ayers and accused him of faking his illness.

Now, with the season wrapped and his relationship to Gunvalson at an end, Ayers is telling his version of things in a special two-part interview with E!.

With his integrity called into question on the Bravo reality series, he was asked he would have done things differently in hindsight.

'I don’t believe in regret,' he replied. 'Nobody held a gun to my head.'

'I did it for her': Brooks claimed that Bravo told Vicki Gunvalson that her role in the reality series would be 'reduced' if they weren't allowed to film the totality of her life with Brooks including his illness

Focus: The businessman found himself accused of faking his cancer by the other Housewives

Ayers split from Gunvalson, 53, in August and said in his Monday interview that each of them has moved on and is dating other people.

He said he 'grew out of love' with Gunvalson and once he knew he wasn't 'the best for her', he decided to end their four-year affair.

He described the break-up as 'hard', but said it was for the best in the long run.

He said one of the main reasons was the animosity towards him exhibited by her daughter Briana Culberson.

'The primary issue was the internal family conflict with Briana. I think she had some significant issues growing up, just a lot of hurt and unresolved anger,' he said.

He said the realization dropped like a bolt of lightning during a session with a reality couples therapist in mid-July, and once that happened, 'it was like the piano was lifted off my back, if you will.’

Separate ways: Ayers and Gunvalson, who had been together for four years, split in August and are now dating other people, according to Ayers

Moved on: Ayers described the break up with Gunvalson as 'hard' but said he had grown out of love with her and it was for the best

'Daddy issues': One of the main reasons for the decision to separate was the animosity shown toward him by Gunvalson's daughter Briana Culberson. Mother and daughter are pictured in 2012

Ayers said he and Gunvalson still text and email each other occasionally.

As for his treatment on the Bravo reality show, he said he didn't defend himself as much as he could have done.

‘I don’t fight like those ladies fight. They fight below the belt,' he said.

‘What am I supposed to do? Argue, fight, cuss? With women? I don’t do that,’ he insisted.

E! teased that he'll address the issue of his cancer in more detail in part two of the exclusive interview to be aired on Tuesday.

The Real Housewives Of Orange County reunion show also aired Monday on Bravo. The ladies rehashed the past season. From L-R: Heather Dubrow, Briana Culberson, Vicki Gunvalson, host Andy Cohen, Shannon Beador, Tamra Judge and Meghan King Edmonds