Towie star Gemma Collins recently found herself embroiled in a slightly embarrassing Photoshop row
GC had edited her head onto images of other women modelling her dresses from the Gemma Collins Boutique. And the models were, understandably, not too happy about it.
Gemma has now spoken out on the whole debacle, admitting that she takes full responsibility and explaining she had no idea it was copyright infringement.
“Let me clear that up,” she stated while appearing on Monday morning’s episode of This Morning (her first interview with James Argent since they made it official).
“My company only works with me in the dresses. The women like to see me in the clothes. I stupidly said ‘Photoshop my head. We are entitled to use those images.’”
She then added: “It was something silly I done. It wasn’t about trying to make myself look thinner. I’m a plus size girl and I’m proud of it.”
Gemma went on to admit she didn’t realise using the images would be a copyright issue.
“Not realising it was a copyright thing. I apologise to anyone now who was offended. I won’t be making that mistake again,” she explained.
GALLERY: TOWIE stars then and now
Towie stars then and now SLIDER
1 of 20Lauren Goodger in 2011
Lauren Goodger takes on the red carpet at Essex Fashion Week back in 2011, a year after the show launched. Stripes and fake tan for days!
2 of 20THE GLOW UP - Lauren Goodger now
Oh YASS, the glo up is real! Lauren Goodger in 2018 at the OK! Magazine's 25th anniversary party. We don't know what magical moisturiser she is using but we are well jeal - She looks younger! She occasionally shows up on TOWIE, that's probably because she very busy working on her fake tan range Lauren's Gold .
3 of 20Harry Derbidge in 2010
TOWIE's sweet heart and cousin to TOWIE royalty, Amy Childs, at the afterparty of a film premiere. Looking so young and fresh faced.
4 of 20THE GLOW UP - Harry Derbidge now
After quitting the show TWICE in 2014 (so, extra). He followed his cousin Amy Child's footsteps and opened his own boutique which closed down last year. Now, he is a social media influencer and slaying the game.
5 of 20Gemma Collins in 2011
Do you remember when she was a brunette? Yeah, no one does.
6 of 20THE GLOW UP - Gemma Collins now
"So, girls"She ditched the bangs, the brunette hair and the excessive tan - thank god. After becoming TOWIE's most meme'ed star, she is now deeply in love with TOWIE's other star James 'Arg' Argent.
7 of 20Amy Childs in 2010
Amy Childs in her signature red hair back in 2010 - on the red carpet for the launch of The Only Way Is Essex.
8 of 20THE GLOW UP - Amy Childs now
After being the first one to quit the show, she stormed the showbiz world with her own reality TV show, starred in Celebrity Big Brother and she is now reported to be worth over £5 million. She also welcomed her first born child, Polly, from ex-boyfriend Bradley Wright. There is no doubt she has been a busy lady.
9 of 20Mark Wright in 2011
Other than being an immediate TOWIE heartthrob, he also used to model early on in his career.
10 of 20THE GLOW UP - Mark Wright now
Not a major change but the most noticeable thing is that widow's peak, it completely vanished, hair transplant maybe? - He is now happily married to Michelle Keegan. He is actually doing really well for himself (go on Mark!), he has his own radio show, he used to be the face of Take Me Out: The Gossip and he ventured across the bond, and he works with Mario Lopez on Extra.
11 of 20James 'Arg' Argent in 2011
This is what he looked like 6 years ago...
12 of 20THE GLOW UP - James Argent now
Here he is on Loose Women just a few days ago, he pretty much still looks the same minus the hair change, it's now flung to the back rather than the side. Following his break-up from his on screen love, Lydia Bright, he took sometime off from TOWIE but now he is back!
13 of 20Lydia Bright in 2011
Lydia opened her own boutique as soon as she joined TOWIE. She left TOWIE after major drama with co-stars James Argent and Gemma Collins.
14 of 20THE GLOW UP - Lydia Bright now
Now, a lot has changed - here she looking incredible on the red carpet for 71st BAFTAs back in Feb. She is now a fashion blogger and you can catch her on E4's Celebrity Five Star Hotel.
15 of 20Sam Faiers in 2010
Quintessential Essex glamour is the best way to describe this picture but she definitely wins the best glow up...
16 of 20THE GLOW UP - Sam Faiers now
She 100% glowed up the most. Her life changed drastically since she first appeared on TOWIE. After leaving the show, she became a mother to baby Paul and baby Rosie. She followed Amy Childs' footsteps and joined Celebrity Big Brother and she has her own show The Mummy Diaries. You go girl.
17 of 20Kirk Norcross in 2010
He is a TOWIE original. He left the show 3 years after first appearing on our TV screens.
18 of 20THE GLOW UP - Kirk Norcross now
Not much has changed, except a couple of wrinkles here and there - yikes. To be fair, he is a dad to 2 children now, looks like he doesn't get much sleep now a days. Oh, he is also an author now.
19 of 20Maria Fowler in 2011
She had a very short time on TOWIE after she was dubbed "just a f***ing extra" by Kirk - harsh af right?
20 of 20THE GLOW UP - Maria Fowler now
We use the term 'Now" very loosely with Maria, this picture is from early 2017 - that's because we can't find any recent pics as she is keeping it on the down low. We do know that is she is a makeup artist now, at least she is doing something.
At the time, models Katie Green and Kate Smith were outraged when they spotted their images – taken by Photographer Lily Limited – had been edited.
“Why Gemma and her team took it upon themselves to alter the images is a bit strange,” Kate told The Sun.
“I am really passionate about body image and women feeling confident in themselves and their natural body shape. I’ve been an ambassador for the subject for many years.
“From that perspective, rather than being mortified, I’m just insulted. It’s very intrusive and it’s an odd thing to do.”
Gemma’s representative issued the following statement: "The images were used in good faith by Gemma.
"An external firm assured her that they owned the copyright and had commissioned the shoots.
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