Love Island star Chyna Mills put on a brave face for her young daughter this week, attending a children's party in London amidst an ongoing and very public family rift. The 27-year-old reality TV personality was all smiles alongside her two-year-old daughter, Havana, at the Spongebob Squarepants 'Sea' party at the Haymarket Hotel on Tuesday.
Public Outing Amid Private Turmoil
The cheerful mother-daughter appearance came just days after Chyna made explosive allegations against the family of her fiancé, Strictly Come Dancing professional Neil Jones, 43. She has publicly accused his mother, Helen Jones, of 'racism, bullying and disrespect' and claimed Neil's family deliberately 'ruined' Havana's baptism by refusing to attend the ceremony last week.
Chyna, who rose to fame on the ITV2 dating show in 2022, dressed casually for the kids' event in a brown suede trench coat over a black top and jeans. Little Havana looked adorable in a red knitted dress as they posed together. The party was held to celebrate the release of the new film, The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants.
The Baptism That Sparked a War of Words
The current conflict erupted into public view after Havana's baptism. Sharing black-and-white photos from the intimate service on Instagram, Chyna posted a strongly worded message. 'I've faced bullying, racism, and constant disrespect from a so-called MIL since the moment I met her,' she wrote. She added that she had tried to clear the air earlier this year but was ignored.
According to Chyna, the decision not to invite Helen Jones to the baptism was a joint one made with Neil. 'To be clear, myself and Neil chose not to invite Helen because of how she’s treated me and lack of acknowledgement for our daughter,' she stated in a reply to a comment online. 'We weren't willing to have that energy around Havana on her special day.'
A source close to the couple told The Sun that the tension predates the baptism and has resulted in some family members being absent from Havana's life. 'Despite Neil's efforts over time to understand and address any issues, he and Chyna still don't know why some family members seem to have taken a dislike to Chyna,' the insider claimed.
Family Lines Drawn in the Sand
The situation has forced Neil Jones to take sides, with insiders confirming he is supporting his fiancée. 'Chyna felt pushed into a corner to defend herself after some of Neil's family friends and relatives left unpleasant comments,' the source explained. The couple were reportedly upset to see private matters debated publicly but felt compelled to respond to open criticism.
In a new twist, Neil's sister, Terri Peters, has now broken her silence to defend their mother. Speaking to the Daily Mail, she accused Chyna of lying, saying, 'If she wants to spin lies, then look, the truth will come out eventually.'
This painful public dispute follows the tragic death of Neil's father, David, just last month. Neil announced the loss on social media, writing: 'He was so loved and he loved us all so much... Rest in peace Dad, we love you.'
The couple, who have a 16-year age gap, went public with their relationship three years ago. Neil proposed during a romantic trip to Bali in April 2023, and their daughter Havana was born in October of the same year. As the feud shows no sign of abating, the focus remains on the impact it may have on their future as a family.
