Katherine Ryan has publicly expressed her support for Katie Price, eight days after the model last spoke to her husband, Lee Andrews, whom she believes has been kidnapped in Dubai.
Background of the Disappearance
Price married Andrews earlier this year, just days after meeting him in person for the first time. The couple connected on social media before she traveled to Dubai, where Andrews resides. However, last week, days before Andrews was due to fly to the UK, Price claimed her husband had gone missing.
On Tuesday, the pair were scheduled to appear on Good Morning Britain, but 24 hours later, Price spoke to her husband for the final time. During a FaceTime call, Andrews told her he was being held in a van with his hands tied. He later said he had been taken to a "black site" and pleaded with her to contact the British embassy.
Price filed a missing person report five days after last speaking to him. While many on social media have speculated that Andrews' disappearance is a publicity stunt, Ryan has come to Price's defense.
Ryan's Comments on Her Podcast
Speaking on her podcast Telling Everybody Everything, Ryan said: "He's been missing for five days. Katie doesn't know where he is. She was a guest on Good Morning Britain, supposed to appear with him to address rumors he's a scammer. She appeared alone and said he was stuck in Dubai due to a business emergency. People are being unkind, suggesting Katie is involved. There's no way they can see past the evidence to think she's a virtuous, kind human being."
Ryan added: "I think she has rescue syndrome, perhaps because she's the firstborn with trauma. She's made so many romantic mistakes publicly that this one is huge. She fears that if he's exposed as a scammer, she'll look foolish. She can't let that be true. It's a mix of shame and loyalty. She wants it to be true so badly that she's constructed a hopeful reality."
Ryan acknowledged that Price's actions are "sweet" but noted that she "looks dumb to the rest of us" for not practicing due diligence before marrying Andrews after only a few days. "There are children involved in her life; she should try to unravel herself from these romantic calamities and focus on her family," Ryan said. She added: "Right now, he's been missing for six days, and she truly believes he may have been kidnapped. Hopefully, this is the final straw for her."
Public Reaction
The podcast clip, which has been liked over 2,000 times on Instagram, was met with messages of support for Price. Paloma Faith commented: "I don't know that it's dumb; I want to give her a big cuddle and say it's okay. Let's get back to therapy. No one will rescue her until she rescues herself."
Another user wrote: "Call me delusional, but I just feel sorry for Katie. It seems like she just wants to be loved, and don't we all?" A third added: "I've always felt desperately sorry for her... She just wants to be loved."
