‘I’m sick of the love split rumours’
As she ramps up her mission to slim down, pals say heartbroken Lauren Goodger is determined to prove her relationship will survive
She’s been happily S dating Joey Morrison for over a year, but last week Lauren Goodger was devastated after her inner circle told her rumours were flying that she’d been dumped by her jailbird lover.
The couple have been dating since April last year, and Lauren has confessed to Closer numerous times that she “can’t wait” to marry Joey and that “he loves kids and knows that’s part of the plan.” But pals say she’s heartbroken by claims that her relationship with Joey, 30 – who is currently serving a 16-year sentence for drugrelated offences and is due for release in March next year – had ended.
A source says: “Lauren has been told repeatedly by her friends that everyone is saying she’s split with Joey. She’s already been through so much with him that it unnerves her when people constantly question whether they’re still together. She’s furious because the rumours aren’t true and she doesn’t want anything to upset things between them. She feels that people are deliberately putting rumours out there to undermine her and her happiness. Lauren’s rising above it all but she’s tired of constantly defending herself.
COUNTING THE DAYS
“Lauren’s still visiting Joey in prison every week and they tell each other on the phone every day that they love each other. She’s counting down the days until he is released and feels they just have to hold on tightly until then. Joey’s told Lauren she’s the only woman for him and he definitely does not want them to split up.”
The pair’s relationship has been packed with drama. In February, Lauren – who has Joey’s name tattooed on her wrist – was left red-faced when she created an Instagram account for Joey to help raise his profile, but a woman following his account then accused Lauren of spying on her and accidentally “liking” one of her photos at 4.40am – a claim Lauren denies. Shortly afterwards, in April, they reportedly briefly split, and the reality star deleted all traces of Joey from her Instagram before they reconciled.
A source says: “Dating someone in prison has been tough for Lauren and she feels people have been quick to scrutinise the relationship. Joey’s reassured her he’s not interested in anyone else. She trusts him 100 per cent and just wants to get to the stage where they can be a proper couple.” Lauren, 30, who says she’s been celibate for over a year, has admitted her quest for the perfect body has ramped up ahead of Joey’s release, and she “can’t wait” to consummate their relationship.
NASTY TROLLS
The star – who has yo-yoed between a size 14 and an 8 – has visited three different boot camps recently, and last week shared a video of herself in a skimpy bikini in a bid to silence her critics and slam the paparazzi who she believes make her look “four times the size.” But despite her defiant stance, she revealed at the start of the year she was desperate to slim down and told how Joey would happily “have me locked in a room with a treadmill.”
A source says: “Lauren has recently lost a stone but she’s still getting trolled over her weight. It gets her down because she feels like she’s putting in a lot of work but still gets bullied.
“Joey has told Lauren she looks beautiful and is encouraging her to keep going to the gym. She jokes he’s her personal trainer because he gives her goals every week. She wants to prove all the body-shamers wrong and lose another stone for summer.”
❛ DATING SOMEONE IN PRISON HAS BEEN TOUGH FOR HER