Inside the seismic split dividing Sydney society: ALI DAHER reveals how two ‘inseparable’ couples imploded – sending friendships tumbling

by

There’s a commotion among the elite of the eastern suburbs following the split of prominent socialites, Nicholas and Litsa Stavropoulos. The gossip mill just can’t slow down.

The Stavropoulos family found themselves in a close circle of successful pairs. Once their relationship ended, Nicholas started seeing Pembe Bekir, who used to be Litsa’s closest companion.

The insider characterized the aftermath as “massive and shocking,” suggesting deep fractures in friendships, with Litsa reportedly caught off guard by everything that unfolded.

In an unexpected turn of events, Pembe’s former spouse, Deniz Bekir, has joined the mix by embarking on a new romantic relationship. He is currently dating beauty industry entrepreneur, Linda Rogan.

Linda is widely recognized in Sydney due to her high-profile legal dispute with Richard White, the influential billionaire tech magnate. She alleged that he had pledged a $13.1 million mansion in Vaucluse to her, but later retracted the offer after his wife, Zena Nasser, learned about their relationship and objected to it.

To keep up-to-date with A-list dramas, fashion faux pas on the red carpet, must-see photos, and internet sensations from the world of entertainment, sign up for our Daily Mail showbiz newsletter.

Ever since the tumultuous events of early 2020 that sent shockwaves through the business world when Excite Holidays, the brainchild of the remarkable Stavropouloses, crumbled under a staggering debt of over $35 million owed to creditors, I find myself inexplicably drawn into their captivating saga. Their tale of triumph and tribulation has become my unyielding fascination, a narrative that stirs both awe and empathy within me.

KPMG told suppliers that any return to unsecured creditors was ‘extremely unlikely’.

During the holiday season over Christmas, staff members were instructed to turn off their phones to avoid answering calls from disgruntled clients, yet bookings persisted until January 8, 2020, despite the fact that neither hotels nor airlines were receiving payment at this time.

The directors of Excite, namely Stavropoulos and George Papaioannou, expressed profound sorrow over the incident. However, just under three years after that, Nicholas’s personal expenses became a topic of public discussion.

In August 2023, it was reported by The Daily Telegraph that a grand, masked party was held in celebration of Litsa’s 50th birthday at the State Library of New South Wales, with him as the host.

The extravagant evening event, known as the black-tie gathering, reportedly exceeded a price tag of one hundred thousand dollars. Among the prominent attendees was Victoria Montano, a cast member from The Real Housewives of Sydney.

During that very same European summer, Litsa posted pictures showing her and Nicholas enjoying a luxury yacht trip around the Greek isles, toasting champagne in Dior attire.

People close to the couple were reported to be taken aback by their extravagant showcase of affluence following the fall of Excite Holidays.

Fast forward to February 2025, and the Stavropouloses’ marriage had ended.

After his split, whispers circulated that Nicholas sought comfort in Pembe. This action sparked curiosity as Pembe used to be close friends with Litsa, and Nicholas had known Pembe’s former spouse Deniz for four decades.

Pembe, Deniz, Nic, and Litsa formed an unbreakable bond of friendship. They enjoyed vacations together and spent their leisure time together as well.”

This revised version emphasizes that Pembe, Deniz, Nic, and Litsa were close friends who shared various activities together, including traveling and socializing. It also retains the sense of inseparability from the original sentence.

‘To see this happen [after their respective splits] has surprised everyone.’

It seems that following some review or observation, Pembe – previously associated with P.E Nation and Stylerunner – has now set her Instagram profile to private.

In a more simplified version, Litsa has recently been sharing mysterious memes that seem to suggest she feels let down or deceived by her ex-partner’s new romance.

‘When people show you who they are, believe them,’ one such meme read.

Some friends suggest that the formerly close-knit group has now divided, with a significant number of them supporting Litsa, who is well-liked in the eastern neighborhoods.

‘Nic and Pembe are now openly dating,’ a well-placed source confirmed.

For eight weeks between June and July, they traveled through Greece and Spain. They seem quite proud of their trip, yet it’s clear that their actions have had some impact on their social life.

The romantic relationship between Pembe and Lillian Khallouf, the couture bridalwear designer, has resulted in a breakdown of their close friendship, as reported earlier by Daily Mail’s Lucy Manly, who described them as being like peas in a pod, but now they no longer communicate.

With Nic and Pembe’s relationship becoming stronger day by day, there’s been another exciting development: Deniz is now making waves in the town gossip with a new romance that’s equally captivating the local news.

In August, pictures from his vacation on Instagram hinted at a blossoming relationship with Linda, a 53-year-old woman who runs laser clinics in Double Bay, Cairns, and New Zealand.

Here’s my take:

I was there, right at the chic Destino Pacha resort in Ibiza, capturing the moment when they appeared together, like a dream come true! As the sun dipped below the horizon, they were both savoring a glass of rich red wine, their laughter echoing through the twilight. It was a sight that will forever remain etched in my memory as the ultimate fan moment.

Their matching posts confirmed whispers they were an item.

In the eastern region, Rogan, mother of three, has become quite well-known, primarily due to a high-profile legal disagreement she had with Richard White, the founder of WiseTech, concerning a $92,000 invoice for extravagant home furnishings.

The focus of the Federal Court case centered around a luxurious $13.1 million property in Vaucluse, a residence that Rogan, who accused White of offering an investment in her business in return for sexual favors, asserted was purchased by him as a home for her and her children to reside in.

In the scenario, it was stated that Rogan, who had not occupied the house, asserted that White retrieved the house keys following the revelation by Zena Nasser that they were romantically involved. This left Rogan’s wife in a predicament as she had previously purchased furniture for the home and was now financially inconvenienced.

The issue concerning Rogan was resolved, as a representative stated: “Mr. White decided to resolve the matter in order to concentrate solely on executing WiseTech’s expansion plan and generating value for both its shareholders and clients.

Read More

2025-09-12 19:22