One of Katie Price’s former partners has criticized the celebrity as she marked her ninth engagement. Gareth Gates, who first met Katie when he was 17 and she was 25, has accused her of exploiting her relationships for personal gain.
The former Pop Idol contestant had a brief involvement with Katie when he was 17, and she was 25 and expecting a child. Initially, he denied their connection but later acknowledged it after a decade. In an interview with The Mirror, Gates explained his reluctance to discuss their past and commented on Katie’s ongoing public references to it.
“I was only 17 at the time, and it was a difficult situation,” Gates revealed. “I don’t actively seek attention. I would never disclose private details out of respect. Katie has built a career on discussing relationships – that’s her niche. I simply shrug it off and say, ‘That’s Katie.'”
Gareth and Katie, who recently disclosed her engagement shortly after parting ways with JJ Slater, have a strained relationship. Their discord seemingly originated when Gates denied any romantic involvement with her.
He later confessed to the contrary, stating, “I denied the entire situation because I was 17. I didn’t want my family to know about my personal life.” Gates admitted, “If I hadn’t lied, it wouldn’t have become a big issue, and my family, friends, and fans wouldn’t have felt as disappointed, I suppose.”
Katie has implied that her liaison with Gareth kickstarted his career. In her 2021 book, “Harvey and Me,” she wrote: “Hello Gareth Gates! He desired a piece of the Pricey – even when I was six months pregnant. He initially denied his first time with me, but once he finally confessed, wasn’t that when his career took off? Anyway, let’s move on swiftly…”
In September, Katie made public remarks about Gareth once more. Reports indicated that he was angered after she mentioned him during her performance with Kerry Katona.
During a show in Gareth’s hometown of Bradford as part of their tour, Katie responded to persistent mentions of him by shouting, “Forget about Gareth Gates.”
A source informed The Sun that Gareth was “furious” yet unsurprised by the incident. The source stated, “He understands that there’s a possibility Katie will mention him whenever she performs, and it’s always distressing. It never gets easier.”
The source added that although Gates has moved on, he believes Katie is leveraging his name for publicity. According to the insider, his involvement with Katie remains “his greatest regret.”
Katie has since moved on romantically, most recently with Lee Andrews. The entrepreneur and CEO of Aura Group Future Urban Travel announced his engagement to Katie on January 23.
Gareth shared insights ahead of rehearsals for his upcoming musical stage production, “Boyband in the Buff.” For more details about Gareth’s musical show or to purchase tickets, visit boybandinthebuff.com.
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