Kate Ferdinand recently addressed accusations that she married her husband, former footballer Rio Ferdinand, for his wealth, stating that she could have chosen a simpler path if money were her sole motivation. The former star of The Only Way Is Essex made these remarks while discussing the public's perception of their relationship.
Ferdinand, 35, and Rio Ferdinand, 47, were seen partying in Ibiza. The couple, who married in 2019, have navigated the challenges of raising a blended family, including Rio's three children from his previous marriage – Lorenz, 19, Tate, 18, and Tia, 15 – as well as their two young children, Cree and Shae.
Kate Ferdinand began dating Rio Ferdinand in 2016, a few years after the tragic death of his first wife, Rebecca Ellison, from breast cancer in 2015. At 25, Ferdinand stepped away from her reality television career to focus on becoming a stepmother.
During a joint interview on a 'Blended' chat, Kate Ferdinand shared her perspective on the 'gold digger' claims. "People think I'm a gold digger, I'm with him for money. I'm basically his nanny that he doesn't pay," she admitted. She further elaborated, "I always say if I wanted to pick a rich man I could have picked a lot easier one without all the kids. If it was just a money thing, it's true though."
Rio Ferdinand also spoke about the complexities of their journey, acknowledging the difficulties Kate has faced. "As much pain and hard yards we have brought to her life, I think it balances out the goodness we have brought to her life as well. But I do appreciate the stress we have brought to her life as well," he stated.
He described the transition from widowhood to building a new family structure as challenging. "Rebecca died, I became a single parent but I had my mum there, my mum became that mother figure but then my mum died quickly after and I then became a single parent but then Kate arrived," Rio explained. He emphasized the importance of allowing Kate to parent and trusting her approach while setting boundaries within the family dynamic.