Bradley Dack is absolutely furious at being cast as the villain following his separation from Olivia Attwood, with those close to the footballer insisting the blame shouldn't fall solely on his shoulders.
The 32-year-old Gillingham player has watched as his ex announced their split last weekend, leaving him feeling angry and hurt by how the situation has been portrayed.
A close friend of Bradley's told the Daily Mail: "He's angry and hurt that all the blame is being put on him. Olivia is making him out to be the bad guy but it's not as simple as that."
Those in his inner circle maintain that problems had been brewing in the marriage for some time, with both parties contributing to its eventual collapse.
Bradley Dack and Olivia Attwood married in June 2023
|Bradley's friends have accused the ITV star of orchestrating a strategic media campaign to emerge from the breakup with her image intact.
The 34-year-old reality favourite reportedly brought in Callum Bracken, who previously worked in publicity at ITV, to manage coverage of the separation and upcoming divorce.
A source revealed: "She's been terrified that her personal life was about to overshadow her professional one. It's been chaos with everyone panicking about how she could get out of her marriage unscathed."
The insider added that Bracken's ITV connections made him seem like the ideal choice, given the broadcaster's significant investment in Olivia's career and their desire to avoid any negative headlines surrounding her.
Bradley's camp maintains he's being unfairly targeted while Olivia benefits from professional backing and media connections.
Bradley Dack has played for several clubs in the EFL including Sunderland, Blackburn and Gillingham
|PA
The couple's relationship has been far from smooth sailing over the past decade, with Olivia herself previously acknowledging their struggles.
Speaking to the Daily Mail last year, she admitted: "Me and Brad never pretend to have a perfect relationship, we have been up, down, left, backwards, and the last six months have been really challenging for us."
She also confessed: "I have messed up and done stuff, Brad has messed up. It's really easy to pretend you're perfect but no one is if you just dig a little deeper."
Speculation about Olivia's close bond with radio co-host Pete Wicks has swirled for months, particularly after the pair were photographed looking cosy on a boat in Ibiza last summer.
Reports reveal there's been considerable concern behind the scenes about these rumours and their potential impact.
Olivia has now jetted off to Dubai for a girls' trip as she processes the end of her 10-year relationship with Bradley, whom she first met back in 2015.
Pictures of Olivia Attwood with fellow reality TV star Pete Wicks reportedly angered Bradley Dack
|Friends say the getaway is exactly the tonic she needs after such a difficult start to the year.
Meanwhile, Bradley has been leaning on his parents and close mates in Kent, with his support network rallying around him during this tough period.
A friend noted: "His family and close friends are supporting him, and all believe that his role in all this is being unfairly portrayed."
Despite the tensions and accusations flying between camps, insiders maintain there's still genuine respect between the former couple, with Olivia reportedly having no plans to publicly criticise Bradley throughout the divorce proceedings.