Tom and Giovanna Fletcher have apologised for using the government’s furlough scheme to claim money during the coronavirus pandemic.
The I’m A Celebrity 2020 Queen of the Castle, 36, and her 35-year-old pop star husband have both taken to social media to share the same lengthy message with their fans after being faced with backlash over the weekend.
A joint statement written by the couple read: “”Hi everyone, we’ve always had a very honest and open relationship with you all on here so we thought it was important to address questions that some of you have rightly asked us in the last 24 hours.
“This weekend there was an article in one of the Sunday papers about us using the government furlough scheme.
(Image: Instagram)
“While parts of the article were inaccurate (including all of the figures mentioned), it is true that we did follow financial advice to furlough someone we employ.”
Tom, who is believed to be worth £8 million, and Giovanna continued: “”This was for a member of our team who couldn’t carry out their role due to the pandemic, and the scheme was suggested to us as the most effective way to give them job stability and security.
“Although it was a time of great uncertainty, we clearly should have thought more about the situation and funded it ourselves.
(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images for NIM)
“It was a huge error of judgement and a mistake we wholeheartedly take responsibility for and we have paid the full amount back.”
The parents-of-three signed off the message: “Gi and Tom x”.
It was reported over the weekend that Giovanna allegedly claimed thousands of pounds from the furlough scheme weeks after winning I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
(Image: ITV)
The podcaster won the gruelling ITV reality show set in Gwrych Castle in North Wales in December last year.
After the show wrapped, it has been reported the pair received up to £30,000 of government money from the lockdown-aid scheme.
Tom has found success with his band McFly over the years.
He’s also penned ten UK number one singles having also written songs for other groups including One Direction, Busted, The Vamps and 5 Seconds of Summer.
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Giovanna and Tom met at school and celebrate their ten-year wedding anniversary next year.
And in a recent interview Tom revealed he his wife were considering singing together on a duet.
Fans would love to hear the pair, who have been together since they were teenagers, collaborate on a hit song.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
