Actress Michelle Keegan has shared a rare and heartwarming photograph featuring her one-year-old daughter Palma, alongside her mother Jacqueline, in a charming pre-Mother's Day tribute. The 38-year-old star took to her Instagram account on Thursday to upload an adorable selfie, capturing all three generations dressed in matching pyjamas from her Very UK collection.
A Sweet Family Moment
In the caption accompanying the image, Michelle wrote: '2 mummy's and a baby. How cuuuuute are these pjs from my @veryuk collection??? Perfect for Mother's Day to match all the generations'. This tender post offers a glimpse into the actress's personal life, showcasing a close-knit family bond ahead of the celebratory weekend.
Speculation of Tension Denied
This familial display comes amidst swirling rumours of discord between Michelle and her mother-in-law, Carol Wright. The speculation ignited after Carol, mother of Michelle's husband Mark Wright, made controversial remarks about thong bikinis during a recent episode of the Wright At Home podcast, which she hosts with her daughters Jess and Natalya.
During the discussion, Carol labelled thong bikinis as 'gross and unattractive', a statement that sparked immediate backlash on social media. Listeners branded the clip 'degrading and disrespectful', leading to its swift removal from the family's social media channels. Jess and Natalya, who initially agreed with their mother, have since issued apologies.
Alleged Subtle Digs
Friends of the family suggested the comments were a thinly veiled criticism of Michelle, who actively promotes her own Orfila Bee swimwear range and frequently shares bikini content on her Instagram. A source told The Sun: 'To put it bluntly, Carol is the textbook mother-in-law from hell. She is completely obsessed with her sons and is your stereotypical possessive boy mum.'
The insider added: 'The tension between Carol and Michelle is very subtle. Carol thinks she’s having a subtle dig, but Michelle sees straight through her, and everything is noted.' However, representatives for Carol have firmly refuted these allegations, insisting she maintains a 'close, supportive relationship' with her daughter-in-law.
Podcast Controversy Escalates
Despite being deleted, the contentious podcast clip resurfaced on TikTok, where it garnered furious reactions from users. During the discussion, Jess claimed her husband Will 'hates' thong bikinis, while Carol stated her husband Mark Sr finds them 'unsexy'. The conversation began with Jess asserting: 'I can't stand how it's acceptable to walk around on the beach in a thong.'
Natalya chimed in: 'Do you know what's worse, these girls who do wear them, fair enough if you're gonna wear them, at least if you're gonna bend over and put your towel over your bed, put a sarong on!' Carol elaborated by recounting a holiday anecdote where her husband commented on three women wearing revealing swimwear, saying: 'It doesn't even look sexy.'
Hypocrisy Accusations Surface
Social media users were quick to highlight apparent double standards, sharing throwback images of Jess from her TOWIE days wearing similarly skimpy bikinis. Critics pointed out the inconsistency, with comments such as: 'Did no one see Jess on Towie? She was always in this sort of bikini when it was pool parties etc xxx...' and 'Literally. pot kettle black and all that xx... one rule for everyone else and their own rules for them, double standards at its finest lol.'
The Wright At Home podcast, launched in November last year, had gained mild traction prior to this incident. However, the bikini debate has now propelled it into the spotlight, albeit for controversial reasons. As Michelle Keegan focuses on family celebrations with her matching pyjama post, the online storm surrounding her in-laws' comments continues to simmer, despite official denials of any underlying tension.
