Coleen Rooney’s legal team have uncovered WhatsApp messages that reveal Rebekah Vardy had helped to set up World Cup pictures with the paparazzi – without any of her fellow WAGs knowing.
In 2018, the wives and girlfriends of the England football star’s were snapped as they headed to a restaurant together in Russia, as the tournament got underway.
At the time, Vardy had insisted that the press showing up was not her doing but messages which have since been handed to the High Court could indicate otherwise.
On the day in question, it is believed that Vardy and her manager Caroline Watt were involved in a number of exchanges surrounding the whereabouts of the WAGs.
Messages were sent between Vardy and her agent while the entire clan were spending the day together in St Petersburg on June 26, in 2018.
(Image: Getty Images)
The wives and girlfriends of football star’s John Stones, Jordan Pickford, Harry Maguire, Marcus Rashford, Kyle Walker, Nick Pope, Gary Cahil and Jack Butland, all joined Vardy in the picture which was taken two days ahead of England’s first-round match against Belgium.
Shannon Horlock, Megan Davison, Annabel Peyton, Annie Kilner, Lucia Loi, Millie Savage, Fern Hawkins and Gemma Acton were all present for the picture that was later sold to The Sun.
On that same day, Vardy messaged Watt at 14:37pm: “We may have to walk to restaurant from hotel now… so might be a good pic of us walking down it’s about 10/15 mins away”
Her agent responded: “Ok will let them know thanks”
In a follow up to Watt, Vardy writes: “On the way down in the restaurant car… He’s doing two runs.”
“Ok. Hopefully he catches you all! Don’t forget to take a group shot,” replies Watt fives minutes later.
(Image: Getty Images)
After some time had passed, Vardy later explained to Watt in another text that she’d had become worried that she had been sussed out by the girls.
The exchange continued – with Vardy expressing her worry that the other WAGs were pressuring her to post the group image on Instagram.
Had the image been uploaded online, the photo would have been deemed almost worthless with the snap being freely available to news outlets.
Despite mounting pressure, the Splash photographer did manage to sell the image to The Sun.
The new evidence was produced in the form of a witness statement by Coleen’s lawyer Paul Lunt – which has proved to be important as Wayne Rooney’s wife had accused Vardy in the past of staging that picture.
(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Coleen claimed Vardy “did not let the others know that she had in fact arranged with Splash News for a paparazzo to be outside to photograph them.”
Shutting down accusations, Vardy insisted that she did not “orchestrate the photograph… did not arrange for a photographer to be present… did not pass information about the group’s location in order to ‘stage’ a photograph… did not inform the press about the location of the dinner”.
Vardy and Coleen continue to go head-to-head as the situation dubbed Wagatha Christie rumbles on.
On 9 October 2019, the Derby County football star’s wife claimed that Vardy’s Instagram account had been leaking stories about her to the press – claims that Vardy has strongly denied and is seeking considerable damages for libel.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
