Mr Selfridge star is accused of sending ‘creepy’ texts to ex
THE star of TV drama Mr Selfridge is at the centre of a row over claims he bombarded his former girlfriend with ‘creepy’ text messages.
Jeremy Piven, who plays Harry Selfridge on the ITV show, was accused of pestering his former flame Kate Nardi for dates – much to the annoyance of her current boyfriend.
But last night the star hit back claiming she had instigated the exchange.
It comes after the 50-year-old actor said it was his aim this year to find a wife and start a family to achieve a ‘balance’ in his life.
American socialite Justin Ross Lee, 32, who is now dating Miss Nardi, 27, has used social media to condemn Piven’s behaviour.
But a spokesman for Piven, said: ‘Kate is
‘I’m ready not to be single’
the one who instigated the text messages and she did not mention she was dating anyone. There have been no inappropriate texts or photos sent. This person [Mr Lee] is famehungry and is just trying to be a celebrity.’
Mr Lee had told friends on Facebook: ‘Before I met Kate she dated Jeremy Piven. I was always a fan and totally fine with that, except lately the guy will not stop texting her, and has become really creepy.’
The message was accompanied with what he claimed was Piven’s phone number and a request for his friends to call or text the actor to ask him to leave Miss Nardi alone.
He also posted a rather more threatening message on Twitter, which read: ‘Text my girlfriend Kate Nardi one more time inviting her to dinner and I will pull those hair plugs out of your head scum bag.’
Mr Lee – who runs a suit handker- chief business – is notorious for courting headlines and appears to enjoy starting public feuds with celebrities. Piven, who dated Miss Nardi in 2013, has allegedly offered to fly her on romantic trips.
The American rose to fame playing Ari Gold in the US comedy drama Entourage, for which he won a Golden Globe and three Emmys. He took on the Mr Selfridge role in 2013. The show enjoyed average ratings of just under 3million.
At the beginning of the year Piven, who has been linked to a string of women including model Kelly Brook, said it was his aim to search for a wife with whom he could start a family.
He told Red magazine: ‘There is absolutely no balance in my life. I am crushingly aware of this fact and my plan this year is to do something about it. I want all that. I want a wife. I want a family.’
Piven was reported to have sent Miss Nardi photos of himself and encouraged her to send an image back, telling her they needed to ‘get on each other’.
Piven is said to have captioned his image ‘in case you forgot’.