Why Lisa snapped over ‘untouchable’ Ant’s success
Insiders reveal what triggered Lisa Armstrong’s latest outburst against her ex-husband Ant McPartlin
Since finalising their divorce last year, Lisa Armstrong has signalled that she has happily moved on from Ant McPartlin – posting a series of loved-up snaps with her boyfriend, James Green, on social media and enjoying a string of date nights.
But in a shock move last week, Lisa, 44, revealed she still has an axe to grind over the breakdown of her 12-year marriage when she took a very public swipe at her ex and his management team on Instagram.
Responding to a snap of
Ant proudly holding up his
20th NTA award for Best TV Presenter alongside his co-presenter and BFF, Declan Donnelly, 45 – posted by their long-term publicist, Simon Jones – the make-up artist wrote, “And you don’t care who you screw over in the process… Well done.”
HURT
Simon – who represents a host of big stars, including Little
Mix, Cheryl and Emma Bunton – hit back with a terse reply, writing, “Lisa, please don’t come on to my Instagram with your negativity and false accusations. It really is about time you moved on and got on with your life and stopped unfairly blaming other people for your mistakes.”
And while Lisa is trying to put her painful past behind her and feel at peace with Ant’s marriage to her former pal and their PA, Anne-Marie Corbett, 43, last month, friends say her outburst came after she “snapped” over seeing Ant basking in glory at the awards.
A source says, “Lisa used to be friends with Simon and the team, but she feels they turned their back on her after the divorce. There is still a lot that hasn’t come out and a lot of things that went on behind the scenes, which have left her feeling hurt. Seeing that picture pushed her to the brink – and she finally just snapped.
“Lisa had stood by Ant for the best part of 20 years while he won that award – time and again supporting from the sidelines while he celebrated in the spotlight. It brought back memories for her of being by his side at those awards for many years and although she has very much moved on and is in a good place right now, it understandably hurt.”
Lisa nursed Ant through his addiction to painkillers in 2017, with the presenter thanking her for staging an intervention and calling an ambulance when he binged on painkillers and alcohol while recovering from a knee operation.
He later said, “I’ve put Lisa through hell with mood swings and depression and how it affects you. She’s been amazing – fantastic throughout.”
The source continues,
“Lisa went through a very tough time before and during their divorce. Yet Ant is still this ‘untouchable’ star going from success to success both personally and professionally and it’s sometimes difficult for her to see that after what she’s been through.
BITTER
“It was an added insult when she was labelled ‘bitter’ by some of his fans for her outburst, because that’s the last thing she wants to come across as.”
A sticking point in the couple’s divorce settlement was Ant wanting Lisa to sign a non-disclosure agreement to not speak about him.
While it’s still not known if the NDA was signed, Lisa had reportedly privately vowed not to do a tell-all interview about their split. Ant’s team had already given her a legal warning in a bid to stop her from engaging in social media conversations about him, after she publicly accused AnneMarie of “breaking girl code” by starting a relationship with Ant six months after their split.
More recently, fans thought Lisa had taken another dig at Ant and Anne-Marie about their wedding in Hampshire last month as she “liked” a Tweet that read, “Terrible weather in Hampshire today.”
The source adds, “Lisa is torn because she has no interest in fame and she doesn’t want to do a tell-all. Yet at the same time, she struggles to hold her tongue while he is being celebrated as if nothing happened.”
Ant reportedly “hurt” Lisa by making digs about her, too – saying he was in the best place in his life with Anne-Marie, she had “saved” him and had been his “rock”, despite Lisa being there for him during some of his dark days.
But shortly before Ant and Anne-Marie’s wedding, insiders told Closer Lisa had made peace with the past and was focusing on her future with divorced dadof-two James Green, who has reportedly moved into her new £3.8m riverside pad.
And while she has vowed not to do a tell-all, pals worry that taking public swipes at her ex could tarnish her future with her new partner.
The source says, “She’s in a great place with James now and friends have told Lisa not to carry the pain of the past into her future with him. They’re urging her to prove to him that she’s put her past behind her.
“Lisa’s fully committed to their future together.
She’s vowed to not be hotheaded, as the last thing she wants is to drag down their future happiness.”
❛ SHE STRUGGLES TO HOLD HER TONGUE WHILE HE’S BEING CELEBRATED ❜