Barry Weiss Leaving ‘Storage Wars,’ Star Films Secret Farewell Episode Following Dave Hester Lawsuit [REPORT]

Stars of the hit A&E TV reality show “Storage Wars” are dropping like flies. Following a report that three main cast members of the series were being dropped due to budget cuts, an original star is also following suit.

Barry Weiss, 54, one of the primary treasure hunters on the long-running series which chronicles a group of individuals searching for profitable items in abandoned storage lockers, has reportedly made a decision to part ways with the network. According to a report from Radar Online, Weiss has already filmed a secret farewell episode following allegations that the show is unauthentic.

“They haven’t announced he’s leaving yet, but as of right now he is not coming back for season five,” a source close to the show confirmed, claiming profitable products found by Weiss on the program were all planted by producers. “Barry doesn’t even pay for the lockers he buys, the production company does.”

Following his alleged dismissal from the series, Weiss is planning to continue profiting from his produce business and travel but is reportedly welcome to return to the series at any time. “If he changes his mind he can come back,” said the source. “But as of now he hasn’t changed his mind and he will be leaving before next season.”

Weiss’s decision to leave the popular reality show comes on the heels of one the program’s former stars, Dave Hester, filing and losing a lawsuit against the network after alleging the series was scripted and that producers utilized unfair business practices. Hester lost the lawsuit after a judge deemed his request to provide an injunction against the network unpersuasive.

Last month, a source claimed that three of the shows main original cast members including Darrell Sheets, and auctioneers Dan and Laura Dotson, were on the chopping block. The stars were allegedly frozen out of six of the show’s upcoming episodes. The changes were reportedly made in an effort to expand the franchise and higher “cheaper talent.”

"Storage Wars" airs Tuesday's on A&E at 9 p.m. ET.