Cheryl Fernandez- Versini looked strained as she was spotted out in London last week – just days after the X Factor judge found herself caught up in a shocking photo scandal.
The singer was left fuming and threatening legal action after a photograph emerged of her standing next to what appeared to be a white powdery substance on a shelf in the toilets of the London Coliseum, where she was attending the British Fashion Awards. The snap was uploaded to Instagram captioned “Sadness in her eyes” and, although it was promptly deleted, it caused a storm.
There was no suggestion that Cheryl had anything to do with drugs and her reps were quick to deny any association, blasting: “She absolutely despises drugs and any connection linking her to them is ridiculous.”
A pal says: “Cheryl was furious about the photograph. She said it was so embarrassing and she barely slept, stressing out about it. She’s always insisted to friends how much she hates drugs. She feels she’s become a punch bag. She feels she’s one of the most targeted women in the industry.”
Read the full story in this week’s Closer – out now