Laurence Fox and Billie Piper's marriage from blazing rows to custody battle
Laurence Fox has been embroiled in controversy over the past few years - and his former marriage to the beloved Billie Piper was just as volatile.
A High Court judge ruled today that the actor-turned-wannabe-politician libelled two men when he referred to them as "paedophiles" on social media. The divorced dad-of-two, 45, was sued by former Stonewall trustee Simon Blake and drag artist Crystal over a row on Twitter, now known as X, in October 2020.
Fox called Mr Blake and the former RuPaul's Drag Race contestant, whose real name is Colin Seymour, 'paedophiles' in an exchange about a decision by Sainsbury's to celebrate Black History Month. It comes after the star was suspended by GB News last September over comments he made on air about a female journalist.
As some have pointed out online, many find it hard to believe he was once married to the Girlfriend singer for eight years. Their union broke down in 2016, with the pop star citing "unreasonable behaviour". Here, we take a look at their turbulent marriage...
Billie Piper and Laurence Fox split in 2016 (Getty)
Billie and Laurence with their son Winston (Rex)Laurence and Billie got together in 2006 after meeting on the set of theatre show Treats. They tied the knot in December 2007, moved to West Sussex and welcomed sons Winston, 14, and Eugene, 11. But according to Lewis actor Laurence, 45, their marriage was plagued by rows that he would yell 'cut' to stop.
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Admitting he “100 per cent wound the f*** out of her," Laurence told The Sunday Times that he now refuses to row. "You don’t need that in your house. You don’t need that sh*t," he said.
Billie concurred that their life was full of 'ups and downs' and 'stupid arguments', telling Psychologies magazine: "It’s emotionally up and down – the extremities of emotion. Being in love isn’t something that goes, 'Oh, this is it then.' It’s more dramatic. It can make you feel sick and then out of control and hyper.’
"[The rows are] usually something really stupid, often born out of being exhausted." In a separate interview with the Daily Mail, Laurence said they tried counselling to mend their 'bad marriage' before finally calling it a day in 2016.
What followed was a bitter custody battle over their sons which Laurence has said was sparked by the legal system rather than themselves. He previously revealed how the divorce and part-time separation from his sons left him feeling suicidal and suffering from extreme anxiety.
“The physical symptoms of trauma and suffering are profound panic attacks for an extended period of time, and I’ve never had a panic attack in my life before," he previously told The Mirror.
“I haven’t slept for six months, even with sleeping pills. I go to bed the same time, same bed as the kids and just lie awake, sleeping two or three hours. My mind’s whirring round. I’m seeing an amazing therapist, I love her. You’ve got to seek help, from your family, a therapist, a fitness trainer, whatever it is.
Billie married DJ Chris Evans when she was just 18 (ExpressStar)“Family and friends might be the best people for this stuff but they’ve got their own lives. My brother, Robin, has saved me in this whole situation. He saw it all, what I didn’t see, knew what was coming and tried to tell me about it.
“I shouted and got angry with him. But I am my brother’s keeper and will never be able to thank him for how wonderful he’s been to me. He sent me a personal trainer, Darren, three times a week, as a divorce present, and the other two days I train myself.
“I kept going to my marriage guidance counsellor even when we stopped, and she said, ‘You know all the money you’ve got saved for a rainy day? Well its f***ing pouring, so use it’. So I live that way at the moment, spending whatever I need to get me through.
“I think mental health is much undiscussed in this country, men especially are scared of it, but it’s good to talk about feelings. There’s only so much room in the cupboard to store them up.” And Laurence admitted Billie’s continuing friendship with first husband Chris Evans was hard for him to deal with.
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A source told The Mirror Billie 'leaned' on Chris - who she once branded her 'soulmate without being lovers' - as her marriage collapsed. And Laurence admitted: “I don’t think I was super tolerant of having him around.
“I was just more naive than I should have been. Chris Evans’ job is to observe people, interview them and be interested in them so that’s what he does for better or worse.” Chris has never responded to his comments but did call Billie's new boyfriend Johnny Lloyd her 'forever partner'.
For Billie's part, she said she suffered a 'massive life crisis' after the split and feared she was stuck in a cycle of 'repetitive, negative behaviours'. “I think your thirties are a time when you start reflecting on everything you have or haven’t achieved, and where you’re going and what your mental health is like," the I Hate Suzie star told the Stagecraft with Gordon Cox podcast.
“It’s a good climate to talk about being a woman and what you’re subjected to and how you move forward. You have to laugh at a moment’s life crisis because otherwise it just kills you.” Billie went on to have a daughter Tallulah with Johnny while Laurence is believed to be single.
Samaritans (116 123) operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you’re feeling, or if you’re worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at [email protected]
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