One of Katie Price’s former partners has criticized the celebrity publicly as she marked her ninth engagement. Gareth Gates, who first met the model when he was 17 and she was 25, has accused Katie of leveraging her relationships for personal gain.
The Pop Idol runner-up had a short-lived romance with Katie when he was 17, while she was 25 and pregnant. Initially, he denied their involvement but later acknowledged it after more than a decade. In an interview with The Mirror, Gareth expressed his reluctance to delve into their past and commented on Katie’s tendency to discuss their history.
Reflecting on the past, he shared, “At that time, I was only 17, and it was a challenging situation. I am not inclined towards seeking public attention. I believe in maintaining privacy and respecting intimate details. Katie has built a career around discussing relationships – that’s her choice. I simply acknowledge it as part of who she is.”
Gareth and Katie, who recently announced her engagement shortly after parting ways with JJ Slater, have a strained relationship. Their discord seemingly began when Gareth initially denied any physical relationship with her.
Later, he confessed, revealing, “I initially denied everything with Jordan because I was only 17 and did not want my family to be aware of my personal life.” He expressed regret, stating, “Had I been honest from the start, it might not have escalated to such a significant issue, causing disappointment to my family, friends, and fans.”
Katie has suggested that her association with Gareth kick-started his career. In her 2021 book, “Harvey and Me,” she mentioned, “Hello Gareth Gates! He desired a connection with Pricey even during my pregnancy.”
She pointed out, “Initially, he denied our encounter, but once he acknowledged it, didn’t that mark the beginning of his career? Anyway, moving on swiftly…”
In September, Katie made public remarks about Gareth once more. Reports indicated he was upset after she mentioned him during a show with Kerry Katona.
During a performance in Gareth’s hometown of Bradford alongside her friend Kerry, Katie faced persistent mentions of Gareth from the audience, prompting her to exclaim, “Forget about Gareth Gates.”
According to sources cited in The Sun, Gareth was reportedly angered but not surprised by the incident. The insider stated, “He understands the risk of Katie referencing him whenever she performs, and it’s always distressing. The situation never gets easier.”
The sources added that although Gareth has moved forward in his life, he feels Katie is exploiting his name for publicity. Supposedly, his involvement with Katie remains a significant regret for him.
Meanwhile, Katie has moved on, most recently with Lee Andrews. The CEO of Aura Group Future Urban Travel confirmed his engagement to Katie on January 23.
Gareth recently shared insights ahead of rehearsals for his upcoming musical stage production, “Boyband in the Buff.” For more details on Gareth’s show or ticket purchases, visit boybandinthebuff.com.
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