Tate Ferdinand, 17, has disclosed that he attempted to undermine his father Rio Ferdinand's relationship with his stepmother, Kate Ferdinand, driven by a sense of loyalty to his late mother, Rebecca. Tate admitted to fabricating stories about Kate, including accusations of her meeting unidentified men and locking him and his siblings in a room, shortly after she joined the family in 2018.

In a recent interview on "Kate's Blended podcast," Tate reflected on the difficult period, stating he felt significant guilt about developing positive feelings for Kate due to his perceived obligation to his mother, Rebecca, who passed away from breast cancer in 2015 at the age of 34. Tate described a phase where he "hated" Kate, calling their journey together a "hell of a journey."

Kate, who shares Tate, Lorenz (19), and Tia (15) with Rio (47), also discussed the children's initial jealousy. She recounted an instance where Tate accused her of "meeting random men on the drive" after a delivery driver arrived with a present for Rio while the children were reportedly asleep. This led to some people questioning Kate's actions when Rio was not present.

Tate explained his actions by saying he "had a hater in the house" and was experiencing intense jealousy, though he struggled to find the precise word for his feelings. He admitted to trying to involve himself in Kate's business.

Another incident involved a Valentine's Day balloon delivery, which Tate claimed spiralled into a false narrative that Kate had "locked them in a room." Kate described the ensuing "massive turmoil" as she faced questions about her alleged behavior.

Tate recalled being in a "confused state of mind" during that period, noting that his father, Rio, did not typically favor surprises, which made being told to stay in a room briefly feel unusual.

He further described a phase of "half-hating" Kate, during which he would engage in "mind games," oscillating between affectionate behavior and complete avoidance. He confessed to feeling guilty about liking and loving Kate, believing it might betray his mother's memory and her family.

This internal conflict left Tate feeling in "no man's land for a couple of years" before he could fully appreciate Kate's role in his life. He shared that after his mother's passing, Rio "shut down" emotionally. Tate described Rio's reaction to grief as "mad," with him often shutting the children down. Kate acknowledged this, suggesting leeway for Rio due to his loss and the challenge of raising three children alone. She noted that Rio did not initially face issues head-on, but their relationship has built strength over time.

Tate also addressed past attempts by online trolls to pit him against his late mother. Kate emphasized there was no competition, stating, "Your mum's your mum, your mum's always going to be your mum." She added that if Rebecca were alive, Kate wouldn't be in her current role.

Earlier on the podcast, Tate admitted he hadn't anticipated loving Kate's children, Shae and Cree, as he does now. He recalled feeling that Kate was trying to take his father away when their relationship began. He also mentioned that Tia, being younger, would listen to their conversations from downstairs.

Kate recounted a turning point when Tate referred to her as "my stepmum," a moment she described as profoundly significant. The conversation also touched upon the children's initial resistance to Kate asserting authority, with Tate explaining he felt she was trying to tell him what to do.

In her past statements, Kate has spoken about the challenges of becoming a stepmother in a grieving household, describing it as feeling like "walking in the steps of someone else's life" in her book, "How To Build A Family."