Ryan and Tatum allowed reality TV cameras to capture them as they kissed and made up after being estranged for more than 25 years.
But now Ryan has admitted their show The O'Neals on Oprah Winfrey's OWN TV network was fake - and blames Oprah for making their relationship even worse.
'We only reconciled on the show, not in life,' Ryan admitted to TV Guide magazine. 'We don't speak.
'In fact, we're further apart now than we were when we started the show.
'So thanks, Oprah, for all your help.'
A spokesperson for the OWN network did not return calls for comment.