Dannii ‘admits defeat’ in long battle to save relationship
DANNII Minogue has split up from the father of her young son.
The singer, 40, had desperately battled to save her four-year relationship to former rugby league player Kris Smith, but the couple had been dogged by rumours of Mr Smith’s infidelity – leading to months of tension.
Their break-up finally came two weeks ago as ‘at some point you have to admit defeat’, friends said last night.
Mr Smith, 33, has moved out of the multi-million-pound home they shared with 21-month-old son Ethan in the affluent Melbourne suburb of East Hawthorn.
A source close to former X Factor judge Miss Minogue said she had ‘fought and fought’ to save the relationship – adding: ‘She gave up so much for Kris.’
The source said: ‘Kris moved out of the house two weeks ago and Dannii’s spending a lot of time with parents Ron and Carol – they live around the corner and they’ve really been there for her.
‘It’s so sad because Dannii gave up so much for Kris. Part of her decision to leave the UK and to move full-time to Australia was because of his insistence that his career was in Australia.
‘Dannii turned down a chance to go back to The X Factor because she couldn’t make the commute between Australia and the UK work.
‘It was all about Kris. Dannii’s career was the most vibrant in the UK, but she wanted her family to come first.
‘So much was on Kris’s terms. Dannii really didn’t want to give up on them. But there comes a point when you have to admit defeat.’
Mr Smith has a flourishing career in Australia, where he is a model and a TV sports presenter, while Miss Minogue gave up a spot on the UK X Factor last year after being unable to make her filming dates work. It is believed the singer, who has been a judge on Australia’s Got Talent, will remain in Australia for the time being.
Last June, the couple – who met in a nightclub on the Spanish island of Ibiza in 2008 – were forced to issue a statement denying they had split.
Speaking out after it was reported that Mr Smith had
‘She gave up so much for Kris’
struck up a close friendship with stunning model Lauren Phillips, they said: ‘ Thanks for your concern. We’re happy to be back at home in Melbourne together as a family.
‘We are committed to our relationship and Ethan as always.’
Miss Phillips is dating Australian rules football star Gary Ablett Jr, 27, and was later said to be a ‘close confidant’ of Mr Smith.
Amid rumours the pair were having a trial separation, Mr Smith then said: ‘You show me a perfect relationship and I will show you a liar. Everything has its ups and downs and things do get magnified when you are in the public eye.’
Miss Minogue last referenced Mr Smith on March 8 while she was on a photoshoot in South Africa, tweeting: ‘Sending big love from Capetown #wishing my boys were here.’ Mr Smith most recently tweeted Miss Minogue on February 3: ‘Sending massive love to my princess @Danniiminogue.’
An indication there was trouble came when Mr Smith recently changed his Twitter profile to read: ‘It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice... not really sure what my job is any more... but I do know I love my boy more than life.’ Miss Minogue has been married once, to actor Julian Mcmahon, the son of former Australian prime minister William Mcmahon.
Her sister, pop star Kylie Minogue, was last night in London performing at the Hammersmith Apollo.
Last night, a spokesman for Dannii Minogue declined to comment.