Coleen Rooney vs Rebekah Vardy - aka Wagatha Christie - is one of the most talked about celebrity legal feuds of the 21st century.
The ordeal has inspired documentaries, TV dramas and even an Olivier award-winning play. But few may realise the toll the case took on Coleen Rooney, who set the ball rolling with her now famous tweet revealing that 'it was Rebekah Vardy's account' back in 2019, beginning a war that continues to rage to this day.
In her bombshell Disney+ docuseries Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story, the mother-of-four opened up about how the fiery subsequent trial took its toll on her mental and physical health, in a way that could now affect her experiences in the I'm A Celeb camp.
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Getty Images)Speaking to the camera, Liverpool-born Coleen revealed: "It caused anxiety and there were lots of tears. I have reactive arthritis. I've had it previously but this situation brought it on a lot more." Tragically, she admitted: "It stripped me of my character and I didn’t want to socialise with people. I was completely in my own world. It was not a nice place to be."
As per the NHS, reactive arthritis causes redness and swelling (inflammation) to different joints, often affecting a person's knees, feet, toes, hips and ankles. This illness often develops after suffering from an infection or food poisoning and will usually clear up within a few months.
Remembering this difficult time, Coleen added: "It hit home just how low I was at that time. My emotions really came out and that made the interview process quite intense, but then it was also a good chance to reflect. I stuck to my guns from beginning to end. My story never changed from day one, and I was telling the truth."
Coleen also spoke of how her ordeal had caused her to withdraw, explaining: "It stripped me of my character, and I didn't want to socialise with people. I was completely in my own world. It was not a nice place to be."
This comes after it was reported that Coleen allegedly won't be partaking in all of the I'm A Celebrity trials, due to her condition. A source told The Sun: "The duty of care on I’m A Celeb is second to none and over the years the cast have been ruled out of challenges for a string of different reasons. Some might have seemed trivial to viewers but the health and happiness of the celebs is of execs’ utmost concern. Coleen’s reactive arthritis being triggered by stress means execs want to wrap her in cotton wool and keep her happy and healthy.”
The source added: "The condition is currently under control so at this stage it’s a ‘could be’ ruled out rather than a ‘will be’. But her physical health will be monitored and, if she suffers a flare-up, her ability to perform each trial will be considered on a case-by-case basis.”
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mirror.co.uk)Image:
PA)The warring WAGs have been locked in a heated feud since 2019, when Coleen, 38, first accused Rebekah of flogging stories about her to The Sun newspaper. Having smelt a rat, Coleen had cleverly narrowed down her list of suspects by limiting access to her Instagram followers to all followers - except for Rebekah.
In a tweet that quickly became one of the most widely memed of all time, Coleen detailed her covert investigations with followers, sharing: "For a few years now someone who I trusted to follow me on my personal Instagram account has been consistently informing The SUN newspaper of my private posts and stories. There has been so much information given to them about me, my friends and my family- all without my permission or knowledge."
She continued: "It's been tough keeping it to myself and not making any comment at all, especially when the stories have been leaked, however, I had to. Now I know for certain which account/ individual it's come from. I have saved and screenshot all the original stories which clearly show just one person has viewed them. It's.......... Rebekah Vardy's account."
Rebekah, who was seven months pregnant and on holiday at the time, responded with a rage-filled post addressed to Coleen, writing: "I'm not being being funny but I don't need the money, what would I gain from selling stories on you? I liked you a lot Coleen & I'm so upset that you have chosen to do this, especially when I'm heavily pregnant. Concluding her message with a broken heart emoji, Rebekah finished: "I'm disgusted that I'm evening having to deny this. You should have called me the first time this happened."
An equally furious defamation suit was filed in the summer of 2020, and, following the full trial in July 2022, it was ruled that the mum of four's claims were 'substantially true', with Rebekah ordered to pay up 90 per cent of Coleen's legal bill.
Last month Rebekah was dealt yet another blow after losing in court once again, this time over Coleen's hefty legal fees. The former Dancing on Ice contestant had accused Coleen of 'deliberately deceiving' the court over the £1.8 million accrued during their Wagatha Christie battle, however, her rival has now been cleared of all claims.
Now it's believed Rebekah will be keeping a watchful eye on Coleen as she enters the I'm A Celeb... jungle, no doubt remembering her own stint in 2017. Mayah Riaz, of Mayah Media, previously told the Mirror: "Coleen joining the same show could be perceived as a subtle power move, a reminder that she's still in the spotlight and can command attention on her terms. While I doubt the primary goal is to intimidate Rebekah, the symbolism is clear.
"She's stepping into a space where Rebekah had a controversial stint and is doing so at a time when her own public image is riding high. This move might make Rebekah feel like Coleen is not only winning in the courtroom but also owning the narrative within the entertainment world."
I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!’ starts on November 17, on ITV1 and ITVX
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