Zara McDermott's friends have spoken out about her split from Sam Thompson, and their comments are unfiltered. Once a love story in which fans started to hear wedding chimes, it became public knowledge three months ago that the duo had ended their five-year relationship.
The spark between the Made in Chelsea star, 32, and Love Island beauty, 28, first ignited in 2019 with Sam sharing with OK! how it all started: "She slid into my DMs. It was great and I'm glad she did." The pair celebrated by going Instagram official in June of that year, followed by Zara's entrance into the Made in Chelsea world, reports the Mirror. But not all was smooth sailing as the couple hit rocky waters and briefly split after Zara admitted to sleeping with someone else during The X Factor: Celebrity 2019.
The emotional turbulence of their journey played out on Made in Chelsea, featuring a poignant scene where Zara begged Sam for forgiveness on a park bench in the affluent London borough. After some time apart, they managed to salvage their relationship, and by December 2020, they confirmed they were back together. Sam told MailOnline at the time: "I believe in forgiveness. I understand the context – and I think in any walk of life you can't move forward unless you forgive." He continued with a wise sentiment: "Forgiveness allows you to heal. You can only heal when you forgive the other person and get over that."
Sadly, after a five-year relationship, they announced their split in December last year. The couple kept quiet about the reasons for their separation, but when Zara was seen on a cosy date with One Direction's Louis Tomlinson at a posh hotel, more details started to surface. Zara and 33-year-old musician Louis were snapped by another guest at a hotel in Aldeburgh, Suffolk, indulging in a £100 fish and chips dinner and cocktails, following several prior dates. An onlooker commented: "They looked every bit the happy couple," as they were seen giggling and holding hands.
The guest who managed to snap the two celebs noted that they appeared to be "having a great time" as they held hands across the table. Insiders have suggested that the duo have been chatting for a while now and have had a few low-key 'dates' over the past few weeks. A friend told MailOnline: "They have only been together a short time, but they clearly get on really well and are enjoying one another's company."
They added that things seem "to be moving pretty fast" but "Zara is really happy and that's what matters the most – all anyone around her wants is to see her smiling." The source also pointed out: "Things have been tricky for her for the past 18 months and her split from [ex-boyfriend] Sam Thompson was difficult, so it's nice to for her to have a new start."
Merely hours after snaps of Zara and Louis hit the headlines, Sam appeared to throw shade at his former flame during a heart-to-heart with dating expert Paul C Brunson on his podcast Staying Relevant. Reflecting on his current single status post-breakup, Sam remarked: "Not much to be honest with you." He elaborated further: "I suppose a lot of people look for validation in other people and they look for the other person instantly to fill that hole. You know when you get that excited feeling when you are talking to someone new and fresh? I can't do that."
While many fans have extended their compassion towards Sam, spotting the "sadness behind his eyes," it seems Zara's inner circle is less than sympathetic. A source claimed to The Daily Mail: "He's a loose cannon, as we saw with his comments so soon after Zara's relationship was made public. It's really quite pathetic of him. It feels like it always has to be about him," adding that his 'snide' and 'attention-seeking' commentary would "never be forgiven."
They continued, expressing frustration: "Why would he do this? Zara put a lot into her relationship with Sam: she did everything she could to make it work for five years, but in the end she just couldn't."
Sam is said to be reeling from his ex's speedy return to the dating scene mere months after their split. A source confided to The Sun: "Sam is obviously devastated by the news, he was with Zara for years and the break-up has hit him hard. He's taking some time out to focus on himself - it's completely blindsided and embarrassed him."
The insider shared further details: "He didn't expect Zara to move on so quickly and he's still dealing with the aftermath of the split. He's not found the split easy and has been trying to keep busy and take his mind off it by focusing on work, friends and family. But everyone can see that he's struggling and just needs to take some time out to reassess things."
During these challenging times, Sam's inner circle has stepped up to offer moral support. This includes his best mate and Staying Relevant podcast co-star Pete Wicks. "His close knit group of friends have stepped in to support him and his family have been rallying around him," revealed a source to The Sun. "Although it's been a tough few months, Sam is determined to put the past behind him and move forward."
A source later revealed to the Mirror that Sam had long since accepted the end of his romance with Zara and has been dipping his toes back into the dating world. The insider told the publication: "Sam has been making jokes about his life since the break up, and that's not really something you'd be doing if you were experiencing total heartbreak. Of course they were sad, but they sort of accepted it a long time ago."
The source continued to reveal that Sam's moving forward and having the time of his life: "He has been going out and having fun again, he's not dating anyone but he's been on dates. He's been around the Chelsea lot and hanging out with Pete [Wicks] a lot. He's really enjoying himself at the moment but doesn't want to be tied down."
