Curtis Pritchard did not cheat on Maura Higgins with Amber Pierson who he was recently spotted sharing a kiss with, a friend of the former couple has said.
The Love Islander, 24, was pictured putting on a cosy display with dancer Amber, 21, with a source close to Maura saying the couple’s outing was ‘a kick in the teeth’.
However, a friend close to Curtis and Maura told MailOnline the cheating claims are a ‘smear campaign’ by Maura to serve as a ‘diversion’ from rumours that circulated about her relationship with her Dancing On Ice partner Alexander Demetriou.
Claims: Curtis Pritchard, 24, did not cheat on Maura Higgins, 29, with Amber Pierson, 21, who he was recently spotted sharing a kiss with, friends of the former couple has said
The insider said: ‘The claims earlier this year that Curtis was with Amber whilst still with Maura were simply a tactical diversion by her to take the heat off the rumours circulating about the close relationship she had with her dance partner Alex’.
Alexander and his wife Carlotta Edwards split earlier this year, with Alex admitting she grew ‘jealous’ of his close bond with Maura, saying he ‘didn’t want to lead her on’ anymore.
A friend of Curtis and Maura insisted that there was ‘no overlap’ between him seeing Amber and the reports that Maura and Alex had grown close during their time on the show.
They told MailOnline: ‘Maura and Alex both swore nothing was going on, yet Alex split from his wife soon after the show finished in suspicious circumstances which got everyone taking’.
Hurt: Curtis was pictured putting on a cosy display with dancer Amber, 21, with a source close to Maura saying the couple’s outing was ‘a kick in the teeth’
‘We all know the truth that there was no overlap of him beginning to see Amber. They toured together without any form of spark, it was only afterwards that this occurred’.
‘Any suggestion otherwise is just a smear campaign by Maura to cause harm to Curtis and cause him further upset and hurt.
‘The truth will all come out in time, but we all back Curtis and support his version of events. Those in glass houses shouldn’t throw bricks!’
It comes after a source close to Maura admitted that the images of Curtis with Amber, released on Friday, were ‘a kick in the teeth’ and believes she ‘should have trusted her gut’ following claims about their relationship in the past.
Rumours: A source said the cheating claims are a ‘smear campaign’ by Maura to serve as a ‘diversion’ from rumours that circulated about her relationship with her Dancing On Ice partner Alexander Demetriou (Maura and Alex pictured in February)
Maura and Curtis called it quits in March just eight months after leaving the Love Island villa, with sources claiming at the time the Irish reality star felt pressured to maintain the romance to boost their profile, which the dancer strongly denies.
MainOnline has contacted representatives for Maura for comment.
A source close to Maura said: ‘This is a massive kick in the teeth to Maura as she did have her suspicions and believes now she should have trusted her gut feeling at the time.
‘However Maura is in a really great place right now, focusing on herself and her career.’
Denied: Amber (pictured centre right) and Curtis (pictured centre) branded claims of their alleged affair as ‘complete lies’ despite their recent park rendezvous
What’s going on? Amid the reports Maura also took to Twitter to share a cryptic tweet about ‘the truth coming out’
Mere hours after Curtis was pictured kissing Amber, Maura also took to Twitter on Saturday to cryptically write: ‘The truth always comes out in the end.’
Professional dancer Curtis previously hit back at claims he had cheated on his ex-girlfriend Maura, with Amber, who also called the speculation a ‘complete lie.’
However it appears the pair have got close in recent months as they were spotted kissing as they walked through a park in images obtained by The Sun.
Curtis packed on the PDA as he wrapped his arm around Amber and leaned in for a kiss. Amber is also a professional dancer and a model based in London.
Rumbled: The dancing couple have been spotted out together on multiple occasions including a romantic double date with Curtis’ brother AJ, 25, and his girlfriend Abbie Quinnen
An insider told the publication: ‘It’s game over for Curtis and Amber pretending they are just pals. Their ”friends” line fooled no one.’
Curtis is said to have taken Amber out on a double date on Tuesday, where they enjoyed dinner with his brother AJ, 25, and his girlfriend Abbie Quinnen.
Curtis and Maura’s relationship was rumoured to be on the rocks in March after speculation surfaced that he was getting overly friendly with the blonde beauty.
Maura had reportedly confronted him after she noticed him getting too close for comfort with his dancer ‘friend.’
The red flags went up for Maura when she was alerted to an anonymous tweet, saying that Curtis was spotted ‘hugging and kissing’ the blonde.
Former flame: Curtis and Maura’s relationship was rumoured to be on the rocks in March after speculation surfaced that he was getting overly friendly with Amber (pictured 2019)
Following the speculation, Amber dismissed claims she’d had a fling with Curtis behind Maura’s back calling them ‘complete lies,’ but branded the Love Island hunk ‘a lovely and talented guy’.
Taking to Instagram, she wrote: ‘I didn’t want to speak out about this, but I feel I have to as I have been receiving a few abusive messages recently regarding what’s been in the papers.
‘To be very clear, Curtis and I have never been together. We are simply friends and dancer partners! There are 13 dancers going on tour, and I am one of them.
‘The ‘cheating’ allegations this week are out of the blue and complete lies.
‘I wanted no part in this but what I will say is Curtis is genuinely a lovely and talented guy, who doesn’t deserve any of this. Hope that’s set the record straight and we can move on. Amber x.’
History: Curtis and Maura found love towards the end of the 2019 ITV series and continued to date for eight months after their exit before their relationship came to end in 2020
Curtis and Maura found love towards the end of the 2019 ITV series and continued to date for eight months after their exit before their relationship came to end in 2020.
It was claimed at the time the couple rowed over her friendship with her Dancing On Ice partner Alexander.
The Sun reported that Alex’s friendly relationship with Maura caused arguments with his Dancing On Ice skater wife Carlotta.
Carlotta and Alex have since announced the break down of their marriage, but Maura has always insisted she is just friends with the professional skater.
Setting the record straight! Back in March, Amber dismissed claims she’d had a fling with the Love Island hunk behind his ex Maura’s back as ‘complete lies’