Leigh-Anne Pinnock has declared that her marriage to footballer Andre Gray is now "stronger" after the beleaguered striker confronted an undisclosed "betrayal" by engaging in therapy and a profound period of "self-reflection." The former Little Mix star, aged 34, had previously disclosed how she lost trust in the Port Vale player following a transgression that left her "heartbroken" less than two years after their Jamaican wedding.
The Path to Reconciliation
Pinnock, who raises four-year-old twins with the Championship footballer, explained that they have finally resolved their issues after Gray, also 34, sought professional help. She told PEOPLE magazine: 'The main thing for me was him just changing, really. He got therapy, he moved abroad as well. Even just him being alone, he did so much self-reflection on that. That was a massive thing for us. I think he just did the work.'
Distance as an Unexpected Ally
Gray's well-travelled career, which included spells with Turkish Süper Lig club Fatih Karagümrük S.K., Greek outfit Aris Thessaloniki, and Saudi Arabian side Al-Riyadh, ironically played a pivotal role in salvaging their marriage. Pinnock believes the physical separation was crucial: 'A big thing for us is distance. As s**t as it is, it's been three years of long distance. It's actually, I think, helped to keep the flame alight as well, you know? You can't wait to see them. It's actually really healthy to miss someone, I think.'
His return to the UK with Stoke-On-Trent based Port Vale means he will be closer to his family, allowing the couple to look ahead to a more optimistic future. Pinnock reflected: 'It really does mean a lot when you can go through something, come out the other end, and just you automatically become stronger for it. Now, obviously, we've been through our stuff. We're married, we have kids, and we can just have a soft life.'
Revelations of Betrayal and Healing
Speaking to Paloma Faith on her Mad Sad Bad podcast in January, Pinnock hinted at marital difficulties by revealing she had been betrayed by the footballer. She said: 'I went through a bit of a weird time with my husband actually and I think that sort of not being totally honest and losing trust and that kind of betrayal. I think like heartbreak is wild, like it's awful and especially someone that you're so madly in love with and that they can hurt you.'
The singer detailed how Gray realised he was being "selfish" after moving abroad to Greece to play for Aris Thessaloniki. She continued: 'Well, I think that person has to want to change and he did. And I think you can go through things in relationship, but if they aren't willing to change for you, forget it. They have to do the work and they have to turn it around because again it's not you, it's not on you. He went to therapy and I think for us what really helped for us, he started playing abroad and he had more time to himself to kind of look and realise that everything that he was doing was not how you make a relationship work, it's not. It's selfish.'
The Power of Forgiveness
When asked what she learnt from her heartbreak, Pinnock admitted she remains with the person who broke her heart. She said: 'I learnt the power of forgiveness. I'm still with the person who broke my heart and he went out of his way to change for me. I think if you can actually get to the other side and make it through it, it makes it all worthwhile.'
Addressing potential criticism, she added: 'Some people might say, oh well why are you still with them? or why are you still giving them another chance? I guess that can be seen as a weakness and not putting yourself first but I think only you know what is truly right for you.'
Pinnock concluded by emphasising that the couple has overcome their "struggles" and now resides in a "really beautiful place." She stated: 'If that person can really show that they want to change, you cannot change somebody but if they go out of their way to change themselves I really do think that kind of tells you everything you need to know. For me personally I had to go through these struggles and things in our relationship to get to the point where we are now, which is a really beautiful place.'
