Coleen Rooney has revealed how the Wagatha Christie trial put a huge strain on her 15-year marriage to Wayne Rooney, the former England captain and current Derby County manager.
In an exclusive interview with British Vogue, she admitted that she was “hurt, short-tempered and frustrated” and that Wayne “didn’t think she was the same person anymore” during the legal battle with Rebekah Vardy.
The Wagatha Christie Saga
The Wagatha Christie saga began in October 2019, when Coleen accused Rebekah of leaking stories from her private Instagram account to The Sun newspaper.
She claimed that she had conducted a “sting” operation by posting fake stories – such as her return to TV, traveling to Mexico for a “gender selection” procedure, and the basement of her family home flooding – and restricting the access to only one account: Rebekah’s. She then announced her findings on social media, ending with the now infamous line: “It’s… Rebekah Vardy’s account.”
She denied the allegation and sued Coleen for defamation.
Rebekah said that someone had damaged her reputation and sent her abuse and death threats online.
She also claimed that she was not the only person who had access to her Instagram account and that she had never sold stories to the press.
The High Court Trial
The libel case went to trial in May 2023, after several failed attempts to settle out of court.
The two-week trial was a media sensation, with both women appearing in person at the High Court in London.
Coleen defended herself on the grounds of truth and public interest, while Rebekah maintained her innocence and sought to prove that Coleen’s accusation was false and harmful.
The trial revealed some shocking details about both women’s lives, such as Rebekah’s attempt to sell a story about footballer Danny Drinkwater’s drink-driving arrest, Coleen’s anger over a Sun article that wrongly reported she had been in a car crash, and Rebekah’s admission that she had suffered from anxiety and depression after Coleen’s post.
The judge, Mrs. Justice Steyn, delivered her written ruling on July 30, 2023, finding in favor of Coleen.
She said that Coleen had proved on the balance of probabilities that Rebekah was responsible for the leaks and that her post was substantially true.
Mrs Justice Steyn also dismissed Rebekah’s claim that Coleen had acted maliciously or recklessly.
Rebekah had to pay Coleen’s legal costs, estimated at £3 million, and damages to be assessed later, as she ordered.
The Impact on Coleen’s Marriage
In her interview with British Vogue, Coleen opened up about how the trial affected her marriage to Wayne, whom she met when they were both 16 and married in 2008.
They have four sons together: Kai, 13, Klay, 10, Kit, 7, and Cass, 5.
Coleen said that Wayne was supportive throughout the ordeal, but that it took its toll on their relationship.
She said that she was so consumed by the case that she neglected him and their children. She said: “He kept saying all the way throughout it: ‘Don’t worry, you’ll be fine’. But there were certain moments where we did have disagreements. Not over the case, but he would get annoyed with me because I was quite short-tempered. You know. I didn’t have time for him. I lost focus.”
She also revealed that Wayne had told her in the autumn of 2021 that he felt like she wasn’t herself anymore.
She said: “There was a moment when Wayne had said: ‘He felt like I wasn’t me anymore’. He didn’t think I was the same person anymore.”
Coleen admitted that their marriage had been through ups and downs over the years, especially after Wayne’s cheating scandals with sex workers and his drink-driving arrest in 2017.
However, she said that they always worked through their problems because they loved each other and wanted to stay together for their children.
She said: “We’ve had our ups and downs. Obviously everybody knows. It’s been hard to go through it in the public eye but there has always been love there. If the love is gone then, you know, it’s pointless. But if not, you’ve got something to work for.”
She added that they were now in a better place and that they were looking forward to celebrating their 15th wedding anniversary in June 2024.
She said: “We’re happy. We’re in a good place. We’ve got a lot to look forward to.”
Conclusion
Coleen Rooney has finally emerged victorious in the Wagatha Christie trial, after a long and stressful legal battle with Rebekah Vardy.
She has exposed Rebekah as the source of the leaks from her private Instagram account to The Sun newspaper and defended her right to reveal the truth.
Coleen has opened up about the challenges and struggles that they faced as a couple, and how they managed to overcome them with love and commitment.
Coleen Rooney has shown that she is not only a WAG, but also a woman of courage, integrity, and resilience.
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