WHY GEMMA’S SECRETLY SICK OF HER DIVA ACT
Her diva alter ego may be bringing Gemma Collins notoriety, but is she sacrificing her peace of mind?
She’s become famed for her fiery “The GC” persona and won an army of fans due to her diva antics on past reality shows – famously quitting I’m A Celeb! after three days in 2014 and repeatedly threatening to walk from the CBB house during her stint in 2016.
And Gemma Collins’ time on Dancing On Ice has been just as headline grabbing – with the star fighting off claims of unprofessionalism and laziness from hosts and judges.
Last week, she was forced to deny claims she’d staged a shocking fall on the ice that left her badly bruised and briefly needing a wheelchair – insisting, “I didn’t fall, I passed out. If they knew the pain I am in with my knee, they would understand.”
But despite her becoming the most talked about contestant, boyfriend James “Arg” Argent admitted last week the show had put a strain on their romance – saying, “I knew the show was going to be a challenge for us, that it would be tough, I didn’t expect it to be this tough.”
He added, “If we can survive that, I honestly believe we can survive anything. I love her so much and I won’t allow this show to break us up.”
Now pals say Gemma is feeling torn over whether her life in the spotlight is making her truly happy.
MORTIFIED
A source says, “Gemma faced a lot of criticism when she first signed up to Dancing On Ice and was determined to prove her critics wrong. Despite picking herself up after her recent fall, she admitted backstage she was mortified. She’s had to give this show so much of her time that she and Arg have barely seen each other. She was really sad when he talked about the strain they’ve faced and it made her question what really would make her happy.
“She’s wanted to be with Arg for years and, now she is, she fears she’s letting a TV show and her hunger for fame come between them. Gemma had hoped the show would be a real turning point. Rather than just being famous for making people laugh, she actually wanted to impress people with her skill and allow fans to see a different side to her. She’d hoped this could be a platform for bigger fame.
“But she’s starting to wonder if the drama that comes with living up to her GC persona is worth it. Lately, she’s started to feel sick of the diva act because of all the negative publicity.”
Insiders previously revealed that Gemma was leaning on her close friend and former CBB housemate Jonathan Cheban to make her a big star in the US – hoping he could introduce her to his best friend Kim Kardashian and other A-listers. But last month, Jonathan said he had no plans to let Kim and Gemma meet – insisting, “Oh, that’s not happening.”
The source adds, “Gemma had her sights set on a big US career and to move up from being a UK reality star to a mega celeb. She thought Jonathan could be her ticket to that dream, but when he said she would never meet Kim, it took the wind out of her sails.
“She’s not sure whether the kind of fame she has now is going to make her happy. She doesn’t want to be known as The GC forever.”
Speaking last week, Gemma’s ex-fiancé, Rami Hawash – from whom she split in 2014 – confirmed her alter ego makes life difficult, saying, “Gemma Collins is a lovely, sweet person. The GC is not. We might have been married with a family now.”
SETTLING DOWN
Gemma has made no secret of her desire to start a family with Arg – with whom she rekindled her romance in December 2017 after being on and off for seven years.
Opening up last year, the 38-year-old said, “With regard to babies, we do want them. He’s always sending me mushy stuff about finding the love of his life and wanting to settle down. He’s very romantic.”
But months later, the star insisted her manic work
schedule left little time to start a family – admitting, “My whole life would really have to change, because every day I’m so busy. I think I’m going to have a child now when I’m 40 and retired.”
PLANS ON HOLD
Speaking last week, Arg admitted Gemma’s career had meant putting their plans for a family on hold. He told the Loose Women panel, “If I was to have proposal plans or kids or marriage, everything’s put to the side until Dancing On Ice is finished. I’m not even in it, but it’s a full time job for me.”
He also recently shared a photo of a friend’s baby on Instagram with the caption, “I’M BROODY @ gemmacollins1.”
The source adds, “They have both said they see their futures together and, when they first made things official, they spoke about babies all the time. But while Arg has been feeling broody, Gemma has been insisting her career comes first. Now, though, she’s feeling more torn and wondering if she needs to rethink her priorities.”
❛ SHE’S FEELING TORN AND WONDERING IF SHE NEEDS TO RETHINK HER PRIORITIES ❜