Four years ago, Coleen Rooney emerged victorious from London's High Court after a judge ruled in her favour in the celebrity libel case against Rebekah Vardy. The saga began in 2019 when Coleen accused fellow WAG Rebekah of leaking private stories to The Sun. Coleen planted false Instagram stories that only Rebekah could see, and when those stories appeared in the press, Coleen publicly accused Rebekah.
Court battle and aftermath
Rebekah sued Coleen for libel in 2020, but the trial in 2022 ended with Judge Mrs Justice Steyn dismissing Rebekah's claim, ruling Coleen's statements were "substantially true." The judge said it was likely Rebekah's agent Caroline Watt "undertook the direct act" of leaking, but that Rebekah "knew of and condoned this behaviour." Rebekah was ordered to pay 90% of Coleen's legal fees, estimated at £3 million.
Reflecting on the verdict, Coleen said: "Today's judgment makes clear that I was right." Rebekah said she was "extremely sad and disappointed."
Ongoing tensions
The feud has continued with public remarks. In 2024, Rebekah claimed she tried to make peace by inviting Coleen for coffee at Caffè Nero, adding: "Let bygones be bygones." She also made a crude joke about Coleen's sex life, referencing husband Wayne Rooney. Rebekah later accused Coleen of wanting her life, saying: "She's following in my footsteps. I think she always wanted my life."
Rebekah also said: "I'm never going to apologise for something I didn't do. Hell will freeze over before I do that."
Health and personal toll
In her Disney+ documentary, Coleen revealed the legal battle caused anxiety and triggered reactive arthritis. She said: "It stripped me of my character, and I didn't want to socialise with people." Wayne Rooney, fascinated by the case, even considered studying law, applying to Nottingham University. He said: "I was saying to the barrister, 'You need to ask this question.'"
The friction predates the online accusation, with an incident at the 2016 Euros where Rebekah allegedly refused to move from seats behind Coleen. The court also heard that Wayne was asked by England management to speak to Jamie Vardy about the issue.
