Michelle Keegan is reportedly determined to stay out of the controversy surrounding her in-laws, Carol Wright and her daughters Jess and Natalya, after they made disparaging comments about women wearing thong bikinis on their podcast 'Wright At Home'. The remarks, which branded the swimwear style as 'gross and unattractive', sparked a backlash online, with many fans interpreting them as a dig at Keegan, who has her own swimwear line and has been photographed in similar bikinis.
During the podcast episode, Carol Wright said thong bikinis are 'not sexy for men to look at', while Jess added that her husband 'cannot stand' seeing women in such attire. Natalya suggested that women should 'put a sarong on' when bending over. The comments quickly went viral, drawing criticism for being 'degrading and disrespectful', with some social media users pointing out that Jess herself has previously worn skimpy swimwear.
A source told the Mirror that Keegan's husband, Mark Wright, was left 'furious' and 'embarrassed' by his mother and sisters' comments. 'Mark adores his wife and he doesn’t want her upset,' the source said. 'He always sides with his wife.' The source added that Keegan has asked Mark to keep her out of the family drama, as she is 'desperate to steer clear' of the fallout.
The controversy has also drawn comparisons to how the Wright women allegedly treated Mark's ex-girlfriend Lauren Goodger, with fans accusing them of hypocrisy. Despite the backlash, the source claimed the Wright ladies did not intend to hurt anyone and are 'mortified' by the negative response. They have since issued a public apology on Instagram, stating they 'hear' the criticism and want to address it.
Keegan, 38, has not publicly commented on the matter, preferring to remain above the fray as the family tensions continue to simmer.
