Gary Lucy has accused his ex-partner, Love Island alum Laura Anderson, of “exploiting” their daughter in a bid to “stay relevant,” after Anderson posted on social media about fathers allegedly hiding income to limit child maintenance payments.
The Hollyoaks actor, 43, who shares 23-month-old Bonnie with Anderson, 36, posted on his Instagram Stories a quote that read, in part, “The narcissist’s greatest asset for leverage is a child. Children of narcissists are collateral damage in their game of control,” and added a message accusing someone of using a child “for financial gain on socials anything to keeps em ‘relevant.’”
Anderson has recently posted about the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) and how the system treats self‑employed parents and directors of limited companies. In a Story shared days earlier she wrote: “Explain this CMS ie UK Government. CMS calculation is BEFORE tax on the unemployed (some people paying 40% tax). ‘Ltd Companies (ie 1 Director) is calculated on <12k per year regardless of profit/ dividends.” She added that “nothing happens if a ‘Ltd company’ doesn't pay (or hides their income elsewhere)” and asked followers whether the system was fair for single parents and co‑parents.
A representative for Anderson did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Daily Mail reported that Anderson’s representatives had been approached, and that Lucy’s representatives declined to comment when contacted.
Lucy’s Instagram post followed public exchanges in which Anderson has previously accused him of limited contact with Bonnie and of a lack of financial and co‑parenting support. In June 2024 Anderson wrote that Lucy had not seen their daughter since early January; at the time she said she had no control over another parent’s actions. Lucy later responded to social media commentary on family posts, including a September post in which he defended a clip of Bonnie with an older sibling.
The pair split while Anderson was pregnant with Bonnie; they briefly reunited after the birth before separating. Lucy also has four other children — two sons and two daughters — with his ex‑wife Natasha.
Anderson has in recent months documented aspects of life as a single parent and has spoken publicly about the challenges of balancing work and childcare. In interviews she has said she prioritises making things work for her child and has addressed how a social media following can make parenting experiences feel more visible and relatable to other mothers. She has also shared posts about her personal life, including photographs with her current partner, footballer Clark Robertson, whom she went public with last October.
The exchanges between Lucy and Anderson add to a broader public conversation about child maintenance rules and how income is assessed for parents who are self‑employed or who receive dividends and profits through limited companies. The CMS uses prescribed assessments to determine payments, and critics — including some public figures who are single parents — have argued that those calculations can produce outcomes they view as unfair or unrepresentative of true income.
Neither Lucy nor Anderson has made a formal legal statement about custody arrangements for Bonnie as a result of the recent social media posts. Media organisations generally reported that formal questions were put to both parties' representatives; Lucy’s declined to comment on the Instagram message, and Anderson’s team had been approached for a response to Lucy’s post.
The public dispute comes as both remain visible in UK entertainment and social media circles: Lucy continues to be known for his work on soap operas, while Anderson has a profile from reality television and digital content. The couple’s situation illustrates the way personal family matters can play out on public platforms and the tensions that can arise when co‑parents discuss private arrangements in public forums.