Royston Blythe, a star of The Real Housewives of Cheshire, has dropped the assault case he filed against his co-star Rachel Lugo. The decision comes after police investigated the alleged physical altercation.
Blythe, 69, filed a formal complaint accusing Lugo, 51, of physically attacking him at the Empowerment Charity Gala in May. The incident occurred while the event was being filmed for the ITV show's finale.
Police initially investigated the allegations, but Blythe informed officers on Friday that he wished to drop the case. A source close to the situation indicated that police advised Blythe to drop the case, and he agreed.
"I have decided to drop the case," Blythe told the Daily Mail. "It was a big decision. I just want it all over and done with. I am a nice person and I don’t want Rachel to go through what I am going through."
Despite dropping the legal action, Blythe stated that he still desires an apology from Lugo. "There has been no real accountability. I haven’t had that. I would like a written apology from Rachel. She hasn’t done that for me," he said. Blythe also shared that the incident has significantly impacted his mental health.
Blythe claims Lugo shoved him forcefully from behind, causing him to lose his footing and feel winded and traumatized. He stated he called the police immediately after the incident. The case was initially logged with Crewe Police before being transferred to Manchester and then Cheshire.
An insider told the Daily Mail that ITV and UTAS UK Productions are still deliberating whether to air the footage of the altercation. Blythe, who has been part of RHOC for 11 years, has reportedly quit the show following the incident and vowed not to return.
Blythe has also filed a formal complaint with show bosses and is reportedly seeing a psychotherapist. He has described experiencing significant online trolling and receiving abusive messages, some wishing him harm.
Lugo, a businesswoman who joined RHOC in 2017, has not publicly addressed the allegations. Sources close to her have suggested that Blythe is exaggerating a minor dispute.
The incident had raised concerns among fans about the future of The Real Housewives of Cheshire, a popular installment in the franchise with over 100 million streams globally. Representatives for Lugo, ITV, and UTAS UK Productions have been contacted for comment.