Katie Price has come under fire in her new four-part Sky documentary for the way she publicised her son Harvey's medical issues and made money from them just days after his birth in May 2002. The series, titled Katie Price: Nothing to Hide, examines all aspects of her life, including the birth of Harvey, who was born with Prader-Willi Syndrome and blindness.
Katie Defends Her Decisions
Looking back, the former I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! star described herself as a “single mum” because Harvey’s father, footballer Dwight Yorke, was not interested in being part of a family. Katie said: “He's my baby, I'm still proud, he's my boy. And even later, when it was clear he had a lot more complex needs, it's all right. We've got this. I'm gonna deal with it.”
However, she also made the decision to return to modelling and photoshoots almost immediately after giving birth. She explained: “Ten days later, after having Harvey, I was straight back to work. I was a single parent mum, that was my job, and I'm going to continue it.”
Family and Friends Voice Concerns
Katie’s mother, Amy, and photographer friend Jeanny Savage both criticised her actions in the documentary. Amy, who accompanied her on some shoots, said: “She went for interviews and she’d take him. I couldn't believe it, really making money out of Harvey. I really thought that that should have been kept private. He's a vulnerable child, and why would you want everyone to know. I just couldn't understand the logic. Why?”
Photographer Jeany Savage added: “I don't agree with the way she sort of pushed him into the headlines. But you know, she is that character. In her way she probably thought she was doing right.”
Katie’s Response to Criticism
Katie defended herself, stating: “I am in the public eye just because I've found out he's right. I'm not going to hide him away. Why? I'm proud that I've got my son. I've monetized my life from 17. My everything I do has been monetized, so why would it change just because I've had Harvey?”
Elsewhere in the documentary, Katie discusses her love life and the rollercoaster lifestyle she has had since becoming a glamour model as a teenager. Asked at a screening if she was proud of her career, she said: “I am so proud, you know. I've got beautiful kids. I've still got an amazing family. There's not that many friends left for me, because I've learned that some of the friends are people I've needed to get rid of. But I am definitely the best version I've ever been of myself. It's like I've been in a washing machine and come out the other side with the experience and the knowledge, and I am at peace with myself.”
Katie added: “I feel like I'm starting my career again, and this is the start of my new career.”
Katie Price: Nothing to Hide, a four-part Sky Original series, will be available on Sky and streaming service NOW on 8 July.
