Pal Lizzie:
Ex-WAG Lizzie Cundy reveals how Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy’s row has split their friendship groups – and why she thinks they should resolve their feud
“Coleen and Rebekah’s row has torn friendships apart”
The WAG war between Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy last week came closer to a sensational – and potentially hugely damaging – High Court showdown.
In the latest stage of their libel battle – in which Rebekah is suing Coleen after being accused of leaking false stories about her private life to The Sun newspaper, which she strongly denies – Coleen’s team claimed a narrow victory after Rebekah’s application to have parts of Coleen’s “public interest” defence struck out was largely rejected.
Rebekah, 39, had asked for the alleged close relationship between her and journalists at The Sun to be removed, but Coleen, 35, was granted permission to argue her rival was a source for the
“The Secret Wag” column – that revealed secrets about players’ private lives – but which Rebekah denies. Following the latest hearing, a source close to Coleen said it felt like a victory for her, adding, “This is the equivalent of a 2-1 win in the semi-finals, without the agony of extra time or a penalty shoot-out.”
The row between the two WAGS has been ongoing since October 2019, when Coleen – who shares sons Kai, 11, Klay, eight, Kit, five, and Cass, three, with Wayne Rooney – was dubbed “WAGatha Christie” after revealing she’d launched a sting operation to discover who had been leaking stories about her. She posted a Tweet claiming the culprit was in her former friend Rebekah’s camp – who shares Sofia, five, Finlay, three, and baby Olivia Grace with husband Jamie Vardy and has Megan, 13, and Taylor, nine, from a previous relationship – who strongly denies the allegation.
TENSIONS
And with the case likely to head to trial, Coleen’s pal and former WAG Lizzie Cundy, 53, tells Closer that the knock-on effect of the row has torn friendships apart within their world.
Lizzie, who was married to former England footballer Jason Cundy for 20 years, says, “Coleen
and Becky’s row has caused huge tensions within my circle of friends. I’ve had fallings out. I won’t name names but I’ve had rows with other WAGs. It has had a knock-on effect.”
Lizzie claims the drama has also impacted their husbands, Derby manager Wayne and Leicester City’s Jamie.
DETERMINED
She continues, “There’s a lot of talk among football players. Wayne and Jamie get constant stick and so me people have been forced to take sides.
“Both husbands have had to show support to their wives, but I do know that there’ll be conversations like, ‘Is there no way this can be worked out?’ Because no one wants this.”
But with neither side showing sign of backing down, it seems a public showdown in the High Court is inevitable.
The losing side could be left with a multi-million-pound bill for costs due to the two-year legal dispute. In March, the
High Court heard Rebekah’s overall legal budget had already reached £897,000, including up to £32,000 for an “Instagram expert”, while Coleen’s estimated costs were £402,000.
But Lizzie is sure that neither of them will surrender.
“This is the biggest legal fight we’ll see in the celebrity world,” she says. “I know them both, although I’m closer to Coleen. Both are very strong, determined, and want to fight for the truth. I don’t believe either will back down. They’re at loggerheads and it seems there’s only one way – court.
“In reality, that’s the worst outcome, because it is such a huge waste of money. A lot has changed since this began – we’re in a pandemic, lives have been lost, and I think it has changed people’s way of thinking.
“For that reason, I know they have both tried to mediate this, so it didn’t go to court. Coleen wouldn’t have started this if she didn’t feel she was right, but I don’t think in her heart she thought it would go this far.
“I know Rebekah desperately wants to prove her innocence, but huge amounts of money are being wasted. Does it matter in the grand scheme of things?”
In her initial reveal on social media, Coleen said someone within her inner circle who had been leaking stories about her family had “been a burden on my life for a few years now”.
She added, “For a few years, someone I trusted to follow me on my personal Instagram has been selling stories… There has been so much information given to them about me, my friends and my family.”
Lizzie claims that, before the scandal broke, Coleen’s family life was “in turmoil” because of leaked stories – but she adds that, ironically, more of her life will be laid bare for the public should the trial go ahead.
She explains, “Coleen is strong and principled, and this was affecting her family life, which is why she fought back. These stories were constant. It was affecting her family in every way.
“She’s a very protective wife and mother, so had to stop it. Her family life was in turmoil because of the stories. She knows what’s important in life – she’s a family girl, and doesn’t want the stress of this for them, but lots of things will be dragged out.
“I’m worried there’ll be character assassinations from both sides. The reputation for the one that loses will be tarnished, as a lot of mud will be thrown. I wish they’d find a resolution.”
By Lisa Blake
I DON’T BELIEVE EITHER WILL BACK DOWN. THEY’RE AT LOGGERHEADS