In a shocking turn of events, Rhian Sugden has broken her silence after the recent announcement of Vernon Kay and Tess Daly‘s split. The news of the breakup, shared on May 8, has sent shockwaves through the entertainment world. The couple, who married in 2003 and share two daughters, Phoebe and Amber, revealed that their separation was “amicable,” though their marriage has been anything but easy over the years.
In a new statement posted on May 12 to her Instagram Story, Rhian addressed the resurfacing of the sexting scandal that has haunted her since 2010, when Vernon Kay admitted to sending explicit messages to the glamour model. Despite the scandal occurring over a decade ago, it has been brought up once again following Vernon and Tess’s recent split.
“You’d think there would be more interesting news knocking about than dragging up something from over 16 years ago?” Rhian wrote, clearly frustrated. Since the news broke, Rhian has been subjected to unwanted attention, including harassment and being followed in public, something she openly condemned.
She shared more of her distress, revealing the extent of the harassment she’s been facing: “Following me, taking photos of me, sending two men to knock on my door while I’m home alone, knocking on family members’ doors, looking for me at my business premises and following me to my son’s nursery for a comment is completely out of order.“
Rhian concluded her message with a plea for privacy: “Please stop approaching me for a comment on somebody else’s private life. I don’t have one.“
The Sexting Scandal: “It Ruined Everything for Me”
The controversy surrounding Vernon and Rhian first erupted in 2010 when Vernon, who was married to Tess at the time, admitted to exchanging explicit texts with the glamour model. The affair reportedly began after the pair met at a club in Bolton, and Vernon’s representatives have always maintained that there was no physical relationship between them. Despite this, the scandal cast a long shadow over Vernon and Tess’s marriage.
At the time, Vernon issued a public apology, and the couple worked hard to salvage their relationship. But for Rhian, the consequences of the scandal were far-reaching. In a candid interview for the Channel 4 documentary Page Three: The Naked Truth, she said, “It ruined everything for me.” She went on to explain the emotional toll it took on her career and personal life. “I felt like I was going up and up with my career, and then that came along. I wish I’d never met him.“
Rhian also revealed her disgust at how Vernon seemed to emerge unscathed from the situation. “He got to give an apology on the radio and just got to carry on, with Family Fortunes, ironically. It still makes me feel sick,” she added.
The Aftermath of the Scandal
Since the scandal broke, Vernon has continued with his career, hosting shows like Family Fortunes, while Rhian’s career trajectory was impacted. Many fans were shocked by how quickly Vernon seemed to move on, while Rhian was left grappling with the fallout.
Though Vernon and Tess have since moved past the scandal, with the couple remaining together for years following the admission, it seems the ghosts of the past have come back to haunt them.
As for Rhian, she has continued with her career, but the emotional scars remain. Her relationship with the media has been complex, and this latest wave of attention has reopened old wounds. However, with her heartfelt plea for privacy and reflection on how the scandal affected her, Rhian is showing strength in the face of renewed public scrutiny.
With Tess and Vernon’s separation now public, it remains to be seen whether further details of the couple’s marriage will come to light. But one thing is clear: the past has a way of resurfacing, and for Rhian Sugden, the fallout from that infamous sexting scandal continues to affect her life in ways she never expected.
