Geri Halliwell and Christian Horner’s marriage is now in question for the first time, according to friends following the leak of a humiliating alleged text conversation between the Formula 1 executive and a female staff member.
After an investigation cleared Horner of any wrongdoing and inappropriate actions connected to rumours of an affair with a colleague, the couple felt relieved last Wednesday.
However, the situation reignited yesterday when a series of WhatsApp messages and photos were released to numerous journalists and prominent sports figures, bringing the controversy back into the spotlight once more.
Friends of the former Spice Girl, who has unwaveringly supported her husband throughout the investigation, have disclosed her extreme distress over the leaked information.
Despite plans to attend the Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend with Horner, to make a public appearance together, those close to Halliwell now deem it highly unlikely she will be present.
Feeling deeply embarrassed by the widespread sharing of the messages, the mother of two is struggling to cope, according to a confidante.
An anonymous email account was used to distribute a large number of private WhatsApp conversations allegedly between Horner and the employee.
Just a day before these messages were leaked, Horner was cleared by Red Bull’s Salzburg-based parent company, allowing him to continue as team principal with an annual salary of £8 million.
Halliwell had expressed to friends her relief and joy that the accusations against Horner, with whom she has a seven-year-old son, Monty, were dismissed.
Despite believing the scandal was over, Halliwell’s friends have revealed that the emergence of these personal messages, captured in 79 screenshots, might devastate her.
One friend recounted, “All along, Christian promised there was nothing in it.”
Another friend is concerned about how Halliwell, humiliated by the fallout, will handle this public disgrace. He said, “Geri has been living in this happy, happy bubble for so many years now, she thought she had her prince and her knight in shining armor but now this.”
“She thought that it had all gone away, she was delighted and over the moon when she learned Christian had been cleared.”
“Geri was pilloried when she got together with Christian because he had just had another baby with another woman, but she has worked hard to rid that image of herself and Christian, and in particular, that she is a homewrecker.”
“Now it has all come crashing down. The tears stopped when the judgment came in on Wednesday, now they absolutely will have started again. This will destroy her. All along, Christian promised there was nothing in it.”
A source close to Halliwell mentioned her uncertainty throughout the ordeal but her determination to preserve their marriage despite the challenges.
The source described Halliwell’s strong commitment to her relationship with Horner, now faced with a significant dilemma.
“Geri is no fishwife, but she finally got the man she wanted, and she won’t want to let him go. This could end up being a big dilemma for her,” the source said.
The leaked messages were also sent to key figures in the F1 community, including FIA president Mohammad Ben Sulayem and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, as well as notable driver Max Verstappen and his father, Jos.
After the initial allegations against Horner surfaced, Halliwell briefly stopped following Verstappen on Instagram, a move described by sources as an impulsive response she hoped would remain unnoticed.
Verstappen, the reigning world champion, was questioned about the investigation’s impact on Red Bull’s season preparation, to which he responded with a focus on performance and the need for resolution.
The scrutiny over Horner has reportedly strained the couple’s personal life, divided between their properties in Oxfordshire and North London, described as a challenging period for Horner and his family by a source.
Halliwell is reported to be in a state of shock, finding it difficult to manage basic self-care, with her family and the Spice Girls expressing concern.
In the aftermath of the leak, Horner issued a statement that read, “I will not comment on anonymous speculation, but to reiterate, I have always denied the allegations.”
“I respected the integrity of the independent investigation and fully cooperated with it every step of the way.”
“It was a thorough and fair investigation conducted by an independent specialist barrister, and it has concluded by dismissing the complaint made. I remain fully focused on the start of the season.”
