I didn’t do it, claims teary Vardy in first TV interview
BURyING her head in her hands as tears well in her eyes, Rebekah Vardy speaks for the first time since losing her Wagatha Christie libel battle last week.
In a TV interview that airs tonight, she discusses the outcome of the high-profile court case she brought against fellow footballer’s wife Coleen Rooney.
A High Court judge ruled on Friday that the 40-year-old had leaked stories about Mrs Rooney to The Sun with her former agent Caroline Watt.
But in a short clip released ahead of the interview tonight on TalkTV, mother-of-five Mrs Vardy tries to restore her reputation, insisting she ‘did not do it’ and saying she feels ‘let down by the legal system’. In the trailer, as dramatic music plays, the wife of Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy tells interviewer Kate McCann: ‘I will say that until I’m blue in the face. I did not do it. I feel let down by a lot of people, a lot of things, but most importantly I feel let down by the legal system.’
The 30-second teaser concludes with an emotional Mrs Vardy bowing her head with tears in her eyes. In October 2019, Mrs Rooney accused Mrs Vardy’s Instagram account of being the source of leaks about her in The Sun.
She posted a long message online, detailing her careful attempts to find the culprit – including making up stories about herself, which were then leaked – and dramatically concluded: ‘It’s... Rebekah Vardy’s account.’ Mrs Rooney, wife of former England striker Wayne, was dubbed ‘Wagatha Christie’ for her detective skills and the saga quickly went viral online.
Mrs Vardy denied leaking stories to the media and sued for libel, but Mrs Rooney defended the claim on the basis her post was ‘substantially true’.
Both women attended a week-long trial at the High Court in London in May, which attracted a huge amount of interest. In her ruling on Friday, Mrs Justice Steyn found in Mrs Rooney’s favour and dismissed the claim against her. The judge found ‘many occasions when her evidence was manifestly inconsistent, evasive or implausible’.
It is believed the total legal costs will be in the region of £3million, most of which will now be paid by Mrs Vardy.
Rebekah Vardy: Coleen and Me airs on TalkTV tonight at 7pm.