Wayne and Coleen Rooney Discuss Openness with Children About Past Scandals

Wayne and Coleen Rooney have revealed they have maintained an open dialogue with their four sons regarding Wayne's past headline-making scandals. The couple, who are set to offer a glimpse into their family life in a new fly-on-the-wall documentary series, have been candid with Kai (16), Klay (13), Kit (10), and Cass (8) about difficult topics.

Wayne shared in an interview that the children have been made aware of events that have appeared in the press. "We've spoken to our kids about lots of things, because there have been things in the newspaper that I've done that they're going to see," he stated. Coleen added that when their sons ask questions, they are "straight with them," explaining that while they didn't discuss these matters when the children were very young, they have addressed them as they have grown.

"If our kids ask us questions we're straight with them," Coleen said. "Obviously not when they were little, but as they've been growing up we've dealt with things and said 'This is wrong, you should never do this, but things do happen'."

Navigating Relationship Challenges

Coleen also reflected on her marriage, suggesting that some couples end relationships too readily. She discussed how she and Wayne have navigated public scrutiny and worked through issues in their relationship. "The main thing is love has always been there," she told OK! magazine. "People are too quick to give up on working at things, too vocal in the moment and saying 'right that's enough.' What we've done is actually talked and tried to work things out."

She emphasized the enduring connection and affection between them, noting, "We still love each other, we've still got a connection, we've still got feelings." Coleen acknowledged the challenges of managing their relationship under public observation but stated they have addressed matters "behind closed doors."

Wayne admitted that future marital challenges are inevitable, as they are for any couple. However, he expressed optimism about their shared future, saying, "Are we going to have tough moments in the future? Of course, every married couple has that. But I think most importantly when you sit down and look back, we've had great moments and we've still got so much of our life to live together with our children, hopefully with their children, and us as grandparents as well."

Wayne has previously spoken about past indiscretions, including visiting brothels as a teenager and paying for sex, describing his actions at the time as foolish and immature. The couple's discussions with their children come as they prepare for the release of their 10-part documentary.

"The Real Rooneys" Documentary

The documentary, titled "The Real Rooneys," is set to premiere on September 24 exclusively on Disney+. Cameras were granted access to their £20 million mansion in Cheshire for the series. The show will document Wayne's transition away from football management and his involvement in daily family life, while Coleen capitalizes on her earlier television success.

A synopsis for the series describes it as following the family through "the highs and lows of married life, raising four lively boys, and supporting eldest son Kai as he pursues his own footballing dream." It promises "surprising personal revelations, career-defining moments, lavish celebrations and unforgettable family holidays."

The production reportedly secured a £10 million deal with Disney+, with sources indicating Coleen's involvement as a significant factor in the bidding war between Disney+ and Amazon. This figure is said to be considerably higher than initially anticipated, reflecting Coleen's demand in the market, partly attributed to the public's interest in footballers' families, drawing parallels to the success of the Beckham documentary.

This venture contrasts with a potential reality show project involving Rebekah Vardy, a figure with whom Coleen had a public legal dispute. Reports suggest initial reactions to Vardy's pilot were lukewarm.