Fans have been reeling since Love Island's Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury announced their shock split, with her supporters continuing to send love and supportive comments following the high-profile break-up on social media.
And now, insiders say that amid the turmoil in her personal life, social media star Molly, 25, has been leaning on a surprising celeb pal, Peter Andre.
A source tells Closer, "As soon as Pete heard the news and saw the cheating claims emerge, he reached out to Molly to offer his support and guidance – knowing only too well how stressful it is having a break-up play out in public having gone through the same during his split from Katie Price 15 years ago.
"While Pete’s been friends with Tommy for a long time, he also feels an obligation of loyalty towards Molly, who he’s got to know well in the years they’ve been together."
Love Island 2019 runners-up Molly, 25, and boxer Tommy, also 25, had been engaged for just over a year and together for five when the influencer announced they were parting ways. In the wake of the news, Tommy – the younger brother of boxing ace Tyson Fury – has been dogged by cheating rumours, speculation that his reps have vehemently denied.
Despite reportedly moving out of the £3.5 million Cheshire home he shared with Molly and their 19-month-old daughter Bambi, Tommy was photographed leaving the property last weekend after what was said to be a 40-minute visit.
His friendship with Pete, 51, seemingly blossomed through Tyson, 36, after the self-styled ‘Gypsy King’ and the Mysterious Girl singer attended a charity boxing event together in 2019. Earlier in the summer, Pete called Tommy an ‘old friend’ on TikTok as the pair teased getting in the ring with one another.
"An Aussie and a Brit, let's see what happens," the dad-of-five joked, before the camera panned to Tommy.
Pete – who was previously married to Katie Price for four years after they fell in love on I’m A Celebrity! – has often championed Molly and Tommy in his magazine column.
After they announced they were expecting their first child, Pete – who is dad to Junior, 19, and Princess, 17, with Katie, as well as Amelia, 10, Theo, seven and Arabella, four months, with wife Emily MacDonagh – said, "If [Molly and Tommy] asked me for any advice I’d probably advise them to invest in a good coffee machine with strong beans because it will become their best mate."
Then, marking their engagement news last July, Pete wrote, "Tommy is a friend and I’m so happy for him. I always say they’ve shown that Love Island really can work. They went into the villa, met, fell in love and have stayed together. It’s a true love story, and their proposal video was fab. Many happy years, guys."
Pete and Katie’s bitter marriage breakdown in 2009 led to sensational headlines and claims of infidelity on her part – something she’s denied.
And our source says that Pete has been guiding Molly based on his lived experience of a break-up endured in the full glare of the spotlight, and she has been all ears for his advice.
"Molly’s really appreciated Pete’s support and they’ve been speaking regularly on the phone since the split," the insider says. "He draws from his own experiences and assures her that however heartbroken and devastated she is right now, there will be love again, no matter how hard that might be to imagine right now.
"He’s offered to act as a mediator between them, which Molly said she needs some time to think about – especially while things are so raw and she can barely think straight."
Molly has been photographed on several occasions since the split, looking understandably forlorn as she navigates the aftermath of her split.
But family, friends, fans and celebrities have been rallying around her. One understanding follower wrote, "Being a single mum myself (who is now marrying her perfect match), love will find you again."
And social media star Grace Keeling – aka GK Barry – said on TikTok, "I know my Molly’s a saint, love you Molly-Mae. We stand with Molly. I’m distraught for her."
And the insider adds that Molly is thinking carefully about her next steps.
"Right now, she wants to sell her house and get away from all the things that remind her of Tommy," the source says.
"She’s talking about moving back in with her mum and dad for a while – it’s an idea that Pete supports as he says it’s important for her and Bambi to have a constant support network while she gets back on her feet."