Former The Only Way Is Essex star Ferne McCann, who also starred in her reality series titled First Time Mum, has made her first public remark regarding allegedly leaked voicemails that have made headlines in recent days.
In a statement addressing allegedly leaked voice chats on social media, reality star Ferne McCann apologized to acid attack victim Sophie Hall and stated that she does not “consider her unattractive or stupid.”
McCann, a former The Only Way Is Essex star, also participated in I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in 2015 and afterward appeared on ITVBe’s First Time Mum.
Voice notes including a woman’s voice have been distributed anonymously during the previous two weeks.
One allegedly contained disparaging remarks about Ms. Hall, who was among those injured in 2017 when the reality star’s ex-boyfriend Arthur Collins sprayed acid in an east London bar.
Now, McCann has published a post on Instagram claiming that the revealed voice messages have been “manipulated” and “out of context.” She added that she want to apologize “to all the victims” of Collins’ “reprehensible behavior” and that Ms. Hall had been “extraordinarily courageous.”
She penned: “I am aware that people may have several questions about the allegedly sent by me voicemails that have been made public. I feel compelled to address these issues (to the extent that I can as there are restrictions on me which I explain below).
“First and foremost, I want to apologize to all the victims of Arthur Collins’ disgusting conduct in 2017 for forcing them to relive that night and the anguish that followed, now that this subject is once again in the public realm. I would like to apologize to Sophie Hall in particular. I do not think she is ugly or foolish. She has shown incredible bravery.”
McCann continued by stating that she is not “attempting to portray” herself as a victim and reiterating that “serious and major legal processes” limit what she can say publicly.
She went on: “What I can tell is that the published audio messages have been altered, distorted, and taken completely out of context. Despite this, I will have spoken falsehoods that I did not believe, but I did so to protect my family and myself from grave harm and in the face of grave threats.”
According to a source, ITV is not currently filming a new season of Ferne McCann: First Time Mum but is in contact with the star and offering support.
Collins was sentenced to 20 years in prison and five on probation in December 2017, following his conviction during a trial.
After the attack, at least 22 people reported injuries, of which 14 are the basis of the charges against him.
During the trial, Ms. Hall stated: “Face agony caused me to fall backward off the back of my chair.
“I was in excruciating pain. I was unable to see clearly. I was in tears. I sat on the ground for what seemed like an eternity.”
Collins said he threw the bottle of fluid over the clubgoers but claimed he believed it was a date rape medication that he stole from two males.
The jury, however, dismissed his arguments, and Judge Noel Lucas characterized them as “a premeditated and calculated attack.”
