The mother of Olympic swimming champion Adam Peaty has reportedly found an unexpected source of support as a bitter family feud threatens to overshadow his upcoming Christmas wedding to Holly Ramsay.
An Unlikely Alliance Forms
Caroline Peaty, the heartbroken mother of the 30-year-old swimming star, has allegedly formed a bond with Sarah Symonds - a woman who previously claimed to have had a seven-year affair with Gordon Ramsay, which the celebrity chef strongly denies.
According to reports, Symonds reached out to Caroline Peaty to offer support and share her own experiences with the Ramsay family. "I know what it's like to be bullied by the Ramsay cult," Symonds stated in an interview with the Mail.
The Growing Family Conflict
The situation has escalated significantly in recent weeks, with Caroline Peaty being notably absent from Holly Ramsay's exclusive Soho Farmhouse hen party, which was attended by high-profile guests including Victoria Beckham. The conflict has now resulted in Caroline being uninvited from the wedding entirely.
Further complicating matters, Adam Peaty's brother John was arrested over allegations that the 34-year-old sent threats to the Olympic champion during his stag weekend in Budapest. The situation became so serious that Adam required a police escort upon his return to Manchester Airport on Sunday.
The brothers' father Mark Peaty told The Sun: "They're brothers. They've always been close but like any normal family, brothers fight, argue, fall out, make-up and start all over again. But it's got out of hand."
Symonds Reaches Out
Sarah Symonds, who is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer, explained her decision to contact Caroline Peaty: "Devastated about the cruel jibes I was reading, I endeavoured to reach out to Mrs Peaty to offer my support, not thinking for one minute she would see my message and reply, but she did."
She described Caroline as "a lovely woman, a class act actually" and noted that they "seemed to hit it off immediately, but then we do have someone in common."
Symonds, who first made her allegations about Gordon Ramsay in 2008, added: "If anyone knows what it's like to be treated by the Ramsays, and their PR machine, it's me. The wounds are still somewhat open for me. So I, more than anyone, can empathise with what Caroline and her family must be going through."
The relationship between Adam Peaty and his brother James has been strained since June, following earlier tensions when Adam discussed James's "demons" and past drug use in his 2021 autobiography. Although James had initially been asked to be a groomsman at the wedding, he was not invited to the stag do following the latest controversy.
A source close to Adam and Holly commented: "This feud is heart-breaking from both sides. The reality is that Adam sees his mum Caroline to be enabling his brother's actions rather than pushing him to deal with his demons. Poor Caroline must feel utterly torn and it's just very hard for everyone."
As the Christmas wedding approaches, the family conflict shows no signs of resolution, leaving Caroline Peaty to find solace in an unexpected friendship with someone who claims to understand the pressures of dealing with the Ramsay family.
