Gemma Collins’ fears over Arg’s ‘revenge romance’

She was linked to a new man last week – with a supposed friend revealing she had moved on from James ‘Arg’ Argent with millionaire businessman, Nadir Gul – but Gemma Collins furiously shot down the reports and said they’d left her “sickened”.

The Diva Forever star even shared a video of her 65-year-old mum, Joan, sobbing as she revealed they knew who sold the story, which Nadir – who is in a long-term relationship – also denied as he called for the culprit to “show some respect” as he has a family.

In a slew of irate Instagram videos, Gemma, 39, defiantly told fans, “Tears in my mother’s eyes – thank you for hurting my family. The only person I’m in love with is myself.”

Now, pals say Gemma’s emotional outburst was partly fuelled by a deep-rooted fear that the hint of her moving on a month after her bitter split from Arg, 32, could prompt her ex to seek a “revenge romance”.

A source says, “Gem was really upset by that story – especially as Nadir is in a long-term relationship and has been such a loyal friend to her.

“She’s also scared of Arg’s reaction and is worried it could spur him to try to get back at her by finding a new girlfriend to flaunt in her face.

“When [the story] first broke, her friends joked she might take a small positive from the rumours, although they were false, in the hope they’d make Arg jealous. But she’s really worried what will happen next.”

Gemma herself had got the rumour mill turning during a recent holiday to Greece after posing with a string of mystery men, posting one picture with a male pal on Instagram Stories and writing alongside, “I love you baby.”

She also seemed to use the break as a chance to show Arg what he was missing by showing off her 3st weight loss in revealing outfits.

But, according to the source, Gemma has since had a change of tack, with the insider explaining, “In hindsight, Gemma realised that could have the opposite effect and

Arg could use it as an excuse to get back at her by moving on with someone else. That’s a big part of why she was so upset over the false reports about her and Nadir.”

CHECK OUT Gemma Collins' relationship timeline

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Despite their nine-year relationship being plagued by countless splits, insiders recently told Closer that the self-coined “GC” was hellbent on finally moving on from Arg, who had cruelly branded her a “hippo” and a “fat f**k” during their latest break up.

The pair’s romance ended after she discovered he had paid for another woman’s dinner during a holiday.

Since then, a seemingly carefree Arg has been snapped chatting up a string of women during his summer stint in Marbella and partying with Romana, the sister of his ex, Lydia Bright.

Gemma has made no secret of her insecurities over his childhood sweetheart Lydia, whose seven-year relationship with Arg overlapped with hers, creating TOWIE’s most infamous love triangle until his final split from Lydia in 2016.

After that, he eventually committed to Gemma. But during an episode of her reality show, Diva España, in 2018, Gemma sobbed, “He doesn’t care that I’m his girlfriend... and he says to me, ‘Does it hurt that I’ll never love you like I loved my ex-girlfriend?’”

Last week, Arg, who had recently appeared to gain weight again during lockdown, proudly gushed about feeling “incredible” after shedding two stone in two weeks following a juice cleanse at health guru Jason Vale’s Portugal retreat.

And pals say the reality star – who also accused Arg of cheating on her in 2012, after he was snapped leaving a nightclub with two women, which she later backtracked on – is worried by the thought of seeing him with another woman again since he’s regained his confidence.

The source says, “While Gemma’s trying to put on a brave face and focus on moving on with her life, inside she’s grieving the loss of a man she’s loved for almost a decade and for a future she’d pinned her baby hopes and all her dreams on for so long.

“While she knows Arg isn’t right for her and still harbours so much hurt and anger, understandably she still loves him, so the thought of seeing him with someone else – and him giving them what she always wanted – absolutely shatters her.”

Their most recent split has been particularly tough for Gemma. It came just weeks after Arg vowed to start a family with the star whose “tough love” he credited to saving his life following his latest rehab stint, in which he spent three months in Thailand for drug and alcohol addiction and weight gain.

In a heartbreaking twist to their painful break-up, Gemma bravely revealed she’d miscarried their baby during the lockdown.And adding to her previous confessions about her desperation to settle down and have a family, Gemma – who tragically lost a baby during a previous relationship in 2012 and had an abortion in her early twenties – said, “I desperately want to become a mum.”

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But insiders say the spiritual star has been turning to her trusted psychic to help her move past her latest hurdle to ensure she doesn’t spiral if her fears become a reality.

The source says, “Gem knows she needs to keep focusing on the future and her psychic and spiritual healer are helping her deal with the reality of the relationship finally being over and how it’ll feel when Arg does eventually move on.

“Even though it is a big fear of hers, her friends and family are also telling she shouldn’t worry, as they are adamant that she will get the happy ever after she deserves – with or without Arg.”

Read more in this week's Closer mag, out now