Former Pop Idol sensation Gareth Gates has broken his silence regarding his brief teenage romance with glamour model Katie Price, revealing intimate details about their relationship that occurred over two decades ago. The singer, now 41, has spoken openly about the emotional impact of their fling, which took place in 2002 when he was just 17 years old and Price was six months pregnant with her eldest son Harvey.
Teenage Romance Amidst Public Scrutiny
Gates described his shock upon discovering that Price had allegedly leaked details of their relationship to the press at the time. 'I was shocked and at the time I actually didn't believe it was from her,' he revealed in a recent interview with New Magazine. 'I thought the press had made it up. But then it turned out it actually was her who sold the story - that was a lot for a kid who wasn't even an adult to take.'
The singer admitted his primary concern was protecting his family from the intimate details becoming public knowledge. 'I didn't want my parents reading every intimate detail about my life in the papers,' Gates explained. 'They didn't need to see that, nobody does. I'm not the sort of person who seeks publicity.'
Career Concerns and Initial Denials
During their relationship, both parties publicly denied any romantic involvement. Gates maintained this position for years, fearing that acknowledging the relationship would damage his burgeoning pop career. He eventually admitted the truth during a 2014 appearance on The Big Reunion, explaining his teenage perspective.
'I denied the whole Jordan thing because I was 17, I didn't want my family to find out about my sex life,' Gates confessed. 'If I hadn't of lied it wouldn't have been a big deal, my family, friends and fans wouldn't have felt as let down, I guess.'
The singer elaborated on his decision-making process at the time: 'For me, I was very young. I had to say I don't want to have a long-term relationship at this age, so she sold the story, and I said it was all lies. The only thing I thought in my head to do was to say it never happened.'
Price's Perspective and Recent Developments
Gates' revelations come following Katie Price's surprise marriage to businessman Lee Andrews. Reflecting on Price's approach to relationships, Gates commented: 'She's just Katie, she's made a career out of talking about people's relationships. Once you accept that, it is what it is.'
Price herself has previously discussed their relationship on Piers Morgan's Life Stories in 2009, expressing regret about their involvement. 'When I look at it now, it's gross, disgusting,' she told Morgan. 'It's terrible - I was still young, I was pregnant, I didn't have the dad about, and I still wanted to be loved. It was wrong when I look back.'
Conflicting Accounts and Relationship Details
In her 2021 book Harvey and Me, Price took a different tone, suggesting she played a role in launching Gates' career. 'He denied losing his virginity to me at first, but once he finally admitted it, wasn't that when his career started?' she wrote.
According to Price's earlier memoir Being Jordan, the couple attempted to keep their relationship discreet, with most of their encounters taking place on a sofa at a friend's house. She also claimed they booked a hotel together to attend the BRIT Awards in London.
The relationship ended abruptly when Gates reportedly broke up with Price via text message, leaving her feeling devastated. 'I really didn't need any more rejections in my life,' Price recalled. 'I was with him at an important time in his life, and then suddenly he dumped me.'
She added that Gates had previously suggested they might go public with their relationship once he secured a record deal, but when that moment arrived, their romance had already concluded.
Gates' candid reflections provide new insight into a relationship that has remained a subject of public fascination for over two decades, highlighting the challenges young celebrities face when navigating personal relationships under intense media scrutiny.
