Olivier Giroud, the former Arsenal and France striker, publicly apologised to his wife Jennifer after a photograph emerged of him in his underwear during a late-night hotel meeting with glamour model Celia Kay in February 2014. The apology came days after a national newspaper published the image, which was reportedly taken by Kay.
Hotel Meeting and Fallout
Hours before Arsenal faced Crystal Palace in a London derby, Kay was photographed arriving at the Four Seasons Hotel in Canary Wharf, where the team were staying. She spent about two hours with Giroud before leaving shortly after 3am. Days later, a newspaper claimed Giroud had "romped" with Kay, which he initially denied, saying he was taking legal advice.
A week later, the newspaper published a photo of Giroud naked except for his pants, coming out of a bathroom. Kay, who had modelled for Maxim and Sports Illustrated, said: "Olivier knows the truth and the fact that he lied about us is pathetic."
Public Apology and Clarification
Giroud, who had become a father months earlier, posted a message on social media before an FA Cup match against Liverpool. He wrote: "I apologise to my wife, family and friends and my manager, team-mates and Arsenal fans. I now have to fight for my family and for my club and obtain their forgiveness. Nothing else matters at the moment."
Arsene Wenger explained Giroud's absence from the starting line-up by saying he "looked a bit tired recently", later adding: "I know where you want to lead me, slowly but surely. He has made a statement. For the rest we will deal with it internally. I want to respect his privacy."
Denial and Aftermath
Giroud later clarified that he did not commit adultery, writing: "Ultimate precision with respect to my apologies... Yes I made a mistake but not I have not committed adultery! Things are clear." Kay also said she did not sleep with him but criticised his earlier denial, tweeting: "Haters will always hate... Especially when they don't know the whole story."
Reflecting on the episode, Giroud said: "There was some things which were true, some others were false, but that's the past. What doesn't kill me makes me stronger." He added that he used football as an outlet and that Wenger's support was important.
Career Highlights and Retirement Plans
Giroud went on to win the FA Cup three times with Arsenal, and later lifted the trophy again with Chelsea, along with the Champions League and Europa League. He also won Serie A with AC Milan before moving to Los Angeles FC and then Lille. He was part of France's 2018 World Cup-winning squad and scored 57 goals in 137 appearances for his country.
Speaking to L'Equipe this week, the 40-year-old confirmed his retirement is likely at the end of the season. He said: "As a player, I think this is very likely my last season. That's why I'm trying to enjoy every moment. I am at peace with myself and with everything I have done in my career."
