Katie Price’s tumultuous love life has long captivated the British public, but this week the former glamour model’s latest saga appears to have pushed even her closest friends and family to the limit. Lee Andrews, 41, Katie’s fourth husband, who she insists was the victim of a dramatic kidnapping, has been officially located in a Dubai prison — leaving supporters bewildered and insiders questioning her version of events.
Katie’s supporters have spent years navigating a minefield of bankruptcies, health battles, surgical procedures, and a string of highly publicised relationships. From nine engagements and four marriages to a rollercoaster of divorces, drink and substance abuse admissions, the mother-of-five has rarely allowed life to pass quietly. Yet even those who have stood by her admit that the latest drama may have them beaten.
According to Katie, her new husband had gone missing under alarming circumstances. He failed to appear for the couple’s first joint interview on Good Morning Britain on May 12, leaving Katie alone to face hosts Susanna Reid and Ed Balls. The star claimed that Andrews had been kidnapped and was the subject of an international search — a story that seemed increasingly implausible to those closest to her.
Earlier reports suggested that Andrews may have been detained by authorities at the airport in Dubai, where he has lived for the past 20 years and where the couple married. The Daily Mail confirmed that he is now under arrest, with his father Peter Andrews revealing: “Lee is OK. He has not been kidnapped but he is under arrest. I don’t know on what charge. I’m not sure where he is being held. But he will call me later today.”
Friends of Katie Price say that the kidnapping narrative has now been definitively dismissed by those around her as “a load of b*******.” One insider explained: “Even members of her own family don’t believe her right now. There is no way that Katie doesn’t know where Andrews is. This really is something else. She’s got everyone talking, which is all she ever wants.”
Adding to the spectacle, Katie promoted a six-figure deal for CBD oil on social media shortly after Andrews’ alleged disappearance. Posting on TikTok, she filmed herself relaxing after a bath, with her hair wrapped in a towel, talking about the product. “Wow, what a week I am having. I really need to relax,” she said. The video drew thousands of likes, but friends and family were horrified, describing it as a “disgusting cheap shot” given the supposed gravity of the situation.
Katie’s own family has voiced frustration. Son Junior, 20, who is usually extremely loyal, reportedly “has had enough” of the antics and is deeply angry. Daughter Princess, 18, is said to be slightly calmer but finds the situation challenging. Meanwhile, Katie’s first husband Peter Andre is furious at the timing of the latest spectacle, concerned that real domestic issues are being overshadowed by the circus surrounding her marriage.
Lee’s family, including his mother Trisha — who works as a medium — and his sister Kelly, are also reportedly “deeply annoyed and upset.” Trisha is said to have been particularly incensed that Katie announced the alleged kidnapping publicly without informing Andrews’ family first. “Thank you. It’s Katie exploiting, and I get all the backlash,” Trisha posted in response to social media comments.
Katie’s pattern of attention-seeking behaviour has long been noted by those close to her. Friends claim that while most people would have been frantic with worry over a missing spouse, Katie instead saw a promotional opportunity. “She’s making videos and going on television to defend her husband — you couldn’t make it up,” said one family friend. The episode culminated with yet another Instagram post offering a 40 per cent discount code for her CBD product line.
Insiders also express genuine concern for Katie’s wellbeing. Physically frail after numerous surgeries and medically risky procedures, she is described as “literally one anaesthetic away from death.” Combined with mental health concerns, including compulsive public behaviour and ongoing stress, friends fear for her future. “You talk to anyone who knows Katie,” one pal said. “There are genuine fears for her health. She won’t stop having surgery. It’s harrowing but she simply won’t listen.”
The couple’s backstory further complicates matters. Andrews, formerly claiming to be a billionaire entrepreneur with a Cambridge PhD, is now understood to be the son of a coal miner from Edwinstowe in Nottinghamshire. Those who knew him growing up recall a young man with big ambitions and a desire for a glamorous, wealthy lifestyle. His authenticity and claims have been the subject of scrutiny, and Katie’s friends worry that she may be blinded by the allure of his charm.
The drama has caused rifts within Katie’s extended circle. Friends and associates argue that her attention to Andrews’ saga is misdirected, drawing focus from urgent family matters. Katie’s mother, Amy, who cares for her disabled grandson Harvey, 23, is seriously ill with terminal Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. Amy previously received a life-changing lung transplant in 2023 but continues to struggle with her health. “There is a lot of anger from people close to her because she has bigger things going on in her life that should be her main priority,” a friend said.
This latest episode coincides with Katie’s 48th birthday, which reportedly passed without mention from Andrews. Social media observations suggest Andrews is active on Instagram, following a glamorous mystery woman, leaving Katie fearful that he may have moved on. Whether this represents genuine concern or another stage-managed scenario is unclear, but it continues the cycle of intrigue and public attention that has defined Katie Price’s life for decades.
Ultimately, insiders warn that this could be one drama too many. “I’m yet to speak to anyone connected to Katie who doesn’t think things are going to end very badly for her — regardless of what happens with Andrews,” a source said. With a combination of personal vulnerability, high-stakes relationships, and a pattern of public spectacle, those closest to her are bracing for further developments in what has become a seemingly never-ending saga.
Katie Price’s life, it seems, remains a continuous balancing act between private turmoil and public fascination. The latest Dubai incident underscores both her resilience and the concerns of those who care for her: a family struggling to separate reality from publicity, and a star whose personal dramas continue to dominate headlines across the UK.
