Kate Ferdinand has responded to accusations that she is a "gold digger" for marrying former footballer Rio Ferdinand. She stated that if her intention was to marry for money, she could have chosen a partner without children.

Ferdinand, 35, who co-parents Tate, 18, Lorenz, 19, and Tia, 15, with her husband Rio, 47, also shares two younger children, Shae, two, and Cree, five, with him. She has been open about the complexities of raising a blended family, particularly her relationship with Rio's teenage children, whose mother Rebecca died of breast cancer in 2015 at age 34.

Ferdinand, who was 25 when she began dating Rio in 2016, transitioned from her reality television career to focus on her role as a stepmother. The couple married in 2019.

During a joint appearance on a "Blended" chat, Ferdinand addressed public perception of their relationship, admitting, "People think I'm a gold digger, I'm with him for money. I'm basically his nanny that he doesn't pay."

She added that she feels secure in her marriage and does not let such claims affect her, asserting, "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 his perspective, acknowledging the challenges Kate faced. He reflected on times when he considered if her life could have been simpler without him and their blended family, but concluded that the positive aspects of their lives together balance the difficulties.

He described the transition from becoming a widower and single parent to integrating Kate into their lives as a significant adjustment. He noted the loss of his mother shortly after his wife's death, leaving him as a single parent before Kate's arrival. Ferdinand emphasized the importance of allowing Kate to parent and establishing boundaries within the co-parenting dynamic.

He recalled that when he met Kate, he was initially hesitant about having more children, but his feelings evolved. "We are in love. You're young. You want kids, you want your own kids as well biologically," he said, explaining his adaptation to the circumstances and his decision to proceed with having children with Kate, driven by her commitment to his existing family.