Michelle Keegan and Mark Wright’s Family Drama: ‘Mortified’ Michelle Distances Herself as ‘Thong-gate’ Leaves Wright Family Reeling
By KATIE HIND, CONSULTANT EDITOR SHOWBUSINESS
The Wright family, once untouchable in Essex, is now grappling with an unprecedented backlash following controversial comments made on their podcast. Carol Wright and her daughters Jess and Natalya have found themselves at the center of a social media storm after their criticism of women wearing thong bikinis on the beach sparked outrage.
The comments, made on the Wrights’ popular podcast Wright At Home, were meant to be a casual discussion but quickly spiraled into what’s now been dubbed ‘Thong-gate,’ with fans and social media users condemning the trio for their judgmental remarks. While Jess asked, “How’s it acceptable to walk around a beach in a thong?”, Carol added that it wasn’t “sexy for men to look at,” while Jess revealed her husband couldn’t “stand it.” The result? A firestorm online, as women proudly posted photos of themselves in thong swimwear, voicing their support for body positivity.
Behind closed doors, however, the mood is far from celebratory. Michelle Keegan, Mark Wright’s wife, is reportedly “mortified and embarrassed” by the scandal. Sources tell Daily Mail that she is distancing herself from the situation, refusing to comment publicly and wanting nothing to do with the drama. “Michelle is mortified and wants no part of any of it,” one insider revealed. “She’s deeply embarrassed and is distancing herself from the family’s fallout.”
Mark, meanwhile, is furious. He is reportedly “dumbfounded” by how his mother and sisters could let the incident snowball into such a massive public debacle. “Mark can’t believe they didn’t foresee the backlash,” a source said. “They’ve been in the industry long enough to know better.” He’s caught between his wife, who wants nothing to do with the controversy, and his family, who are reeling from the public condemnation.
Adding to the tension, the Wright family’s usual supporters have turned against them, with many calling out the trio’s hypocrisy and cruel comments. Jess and Carol have even tried to defend themselves by issuing an apology, but it’s not going over well. “We’ve listened, we hear you, and we want to say sorry,” the apology read, but the damage seems to have already been done.
With their fanbase dwindling, some Essex locals are even celebrating the potential downfall of the Wright family. “The way they shamed other women was something they will never recover from. They are finished,” said one source.
While Marks & Spencer has reportedly stood by Carol and Jess, refusing to drop them as fashion ambassadors, it’s unclear if they will ever regain their previous level of fame and adoration.
As for Mark, the big question remains: will he continue to stand by his family, or will he distance himself like his wife? Only time will tell.
