Amy‑Lucy O’Rourke, the Brentwood aesthetics clinic owner who has been linked to reality star Thomas Skinner, reposted an Instagram quote about “narcissists” and “crybullies” hours after Skinner said he had a two‑week affair following his 2022 wedding.
Skinner, 34, admitted in an interview published Sunday that he had a brief relationship with Amy‑Lucy after his marriage to wife Sinead, calling it “the biggest mistake of his life.” The Apprentice alum, who is due to appear on the forthcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing, also apologised on Instagram after an on‑camera incident in which he grabbed a reporter’s phone during a press call and abruptly left.
In a repost to her Instagram Stories, Amy‑Lucy shared a quote that read, “Narcissists are crybullies. A crybully is someone who plays the victim in a situation they created.” The post appeared shortly after media coverage of Skinner’s interview and the subsequent press‑call confrontation.
In the interview, Skinner said the liaison lasted two weeks and that he felt “absolutely terrible” afterward. He told the paper he had confessed to his wife and understood the gravity of his actions, saying he had been left feeling “so guilty” and that he had “let her down in that brief moment of madness.” Skinner and Sinead, who married in May 2022, share a son, Henry, and twin daughters, Roma and Darla.
The storm‑call incident occurred during a media appearance ahead of the Strictly launch. Skinner said a journalist had placed a phone on the table to record the conversation and that he saw messages on the screen referring to “a personal story from [his] past.” He told followers on Instagram that he felt triggered, picked up the device and left to “gather [himself],” later apologising for snatching the phone and saying he did not wish to imply bad intent by the journalist.
The BBC has indicated it is standing by Skinner and that he will remain in this year’s Strictly line‑up, which begins on Sept. 20. In his statement he expressed excitement about competing on the show and used his social media catchphrase, adding that he was grateful for the “love, kindness and support” he had received.
Skinner, who rose to public attention on The Apprentice and through social media videos, said he met his wife in a London bar in 2018 and proposed in July 2020, shortly after announcing they were expecting their first child. He has described the affair as a single lapse in judgment and said he had worked to move past “difficult moments” in his life.
Amy‑Lucy runs a weight‑loss and aesthetics clinic in Brentwood. Media coverage of the story has focused both on Skinner’s public apology and on the reaction from those linked to the events, including the Instagram material shared by Amy‑Lucy. Neither Skinner nor Amy‑Lucy has provided further public comment beyond the interview and social‑media posts.
The episode adds to scrutiny of reality television stars who move into mainstream entertainment and raises questions about how personal controversies are handled by broadcasters. Strictly’s producers did not immediately issue a separate comment on the matter beyond the BBC’s position that Skinner would continue on the show.