Who did Zara McDermott cheat on Sam Thompson with? Inside the Love Island star’s infidelity scandal with an associate of Simon Cowell
As someone who has followed the rollercoaster ride that is Sam and Zara’s relationship, it’s hard not to feel a pang of sadness at their recent split. I remember cheering them on when they first got together, hoping against hope that this time would be different. But alas, the struggles of fame and demanding careers took its toll, just like a game of Jenggers where one wrong move can bring the whole structure crashing down.
Their journey was akin to watching a reality TV show – full of highs, lows, twists, turns, and unexpected guest appearances. From Sam’s stint in the jungle to Zara’s sparkly shoes on Strictly, they both managed to make their mark in the world of entertainment. But it seems that even the brightest stars can’t always find their way home, especially when they’re dancing under the glitter ball.
I guess the moral of the story is that sometimes, even love isn’t enough to keep a relationship afloat when the tides of life get rough. But who knows? Maybe one day, these two will find themselves back on the dance floor together, only this time as partners in crime rather than romance. After all, they say the third time’s a charm… or maybe it’s just the first time you learn to do the cha-cha without tripping over your own feet!
This week, it emerged that Sam Thompson and Zara McDermott, known for their influence in the entertainment industry, decided to end their five-year romantic partnership, a surprising development in their relationship.
Their turbulent relationship reached its conclusion following Zara’s infidelity incident, an act that seemed irreparable and ultimately led to the dissolution of their bond.
Previously on Love Island, a 28-year-old cast member had an affair with a music executive during their stint on The X Factor five years back. Their separation and later reconciliation were showcased in a subsequent season of Made In Chelsea.
The relationship involved Brahim Fouradi, a music executive who once held the position of A&R director under Simon Cowell at Syco Music.
For 16 months, they were in a relationship, but then Sam found out about the past incident involving the ex-Love Island celebrity and Brahim.
On a special edition of Celebrity X Factor, Zara was featured alongside previous Love Island competitors. This unique ITV show ultimately crowned former TOWIE star Megan McKenna as the winner.
So here TopMob takes a look at who Brahim Fouradi is and the cheating scandal that unfolded:
Who is Brahim Fouradi?
Brahim is highly recognized within the music scene; due to his extensive career background, he’s had the opportunity to participate in popular talent competitions like The X Factor over time.
He has since left Syco and now lives and works in Holland.
Prior to working backstage, Brahim and his brother Mohamed initially created music together as the duo Fouradi from 2005 to 2012 before stepping behind the scenes.
Subsequently, he established a talent management firm alongside his brother, overseeing artists like Bilal Wahib, Frenna, Josylvio, Kevin, Lijpe, Zoë Tauran, and renowned music producer and songwriter, Project Money (Carlos Vrolijk).
Before becoming an artist manager, Brahim had roles at Sony Music as an A&R Consultant and served as the Head of Music for X Factor NL.
Later on, he began his career with Cowell’s Syco Entertainment, where they assigned him as the International A&R Manager for Syco. He played a significant role in the production of X Factor UK, Britain’s Got Talent, and America’s Got Talent.
Ultimately, Brahim was promoted to A&R Director at Syco Entertainment.
Besides serving as a songwriter and artist manager, Brahim also holds the position of A&R Director within the prestigious music group, Universal Music.
When did the affair happen?
Sam, 32, initially ended his relationship with Zara in wake of her cheating in September 2019.
The subsequent series of Made In Chelsea documented the aftermath as they eventually reconciled.
This week, sources near the couple revealed that Sam’s family has not fully pardoned Zara after her past affair, even though they have tried to reaccept her.
Among those expressing their disapproval, it was Louise, the protective sibling of the Made in Chelsea star (who’s 34 years old), who spoke up most strongly against Zara. When asked why he chose to bring her back into his life, he agreed, considering his well-being, to grant her a second chance.
However, despite their efforts, the bond between them couldn’t withstand the test of time – it has been formally ended, marking nearly five and a half years since the affair that ultimately led to its demise.
News didn’t catch those close to the reality celebrities off guard, since they thought it was impressive that they managed to endure for as long as they did after the scandal involving Zara’s infidelity.
My friend shared with TopMob that Zara and Sam’s bond didn’t seem destined for a lasting journey together.
After the incident with Zara’s infidelity, it proved challenging for them to fully bounce back; many couples might not have endured as long as they did following such a hardship.
As a lifestyle advisor, I found myself in a tricky situation that required amends, particularly with my dear friend Louise. It was clear that she felt hurt when I welcomed Sam back into our circle.
However, she found a way to revive their relationship, and they enjoyed each other’s company once more; yet, there was always an underlying sense that it might not progress beyond casual.
For several months, they put off what was unavoidable because they had grown apart and their lifestyles had significantly diverged.
A different friend characterized Zara and Sam as an “unusual match,” expressing doubt about their compatibility.
Did Sam and Zara stay together?
After the affair came to light they split but eventually reunited.
During an interview with Jamie Laing on Made In Chelsea in October 2022, Zara expressed her feelings about the infidelity incident by saying: ‘I believed that Sam and I were destined to split up. I felt like we were barely holding on together, about to snap apart any moment.’
A few weeks ago, it was revealed that Zara had been involved in an affair. This information surfaced nearly a year after she had appeared on the program. As a result, she publicly apologized, expressing remorse for her actions.
On Instagram Stories, she posted: ‘A blunder from a year ago has surfaced recently, and I feel it’s important to address it honestly. I don’t support infidelity, and I acted imprudently at a time when I was incredibly self-centered and immature.’
She went on to say: ‘I firmly believe that I have gained a great deal from my error. I feel compelled to offer my sincere apologies to Sam for the hardship, humiliation, frustration, and pain I’ve caused him. My aim is to rectify this situation, and in my opinion, he deserves nothing less than my honesty – both with myself and all of you. Sam, I love you endlessly.’ (x represents a kiss)
In November 2020, after receiving sincere apologies from Zara, Sam decided to reconcile. Then, in January 2021, this reunited pair broke COVID-19 travel guidelines by jetting off to the Maldives and eventually began living together at Sam’s residence in Chelsea.
Why did Sam take Zara back?
Previously, Sam clarified his reason for reconciling with her: He is a firm believer in granting forgiveness. He acknowledges the situation and feels that progress cannot be made without extending forgiveness in all aspects of life.
Granting forgiveness facilitates healing. True healing can occur only when you let go of resentment towards the other individual and move past it.
He stated: “Without a doubt, I advise that you should constantly endeavor to forgive, and you will find improvement within yourself – it may be simpler to say than do, but it is essential that you make the effort.
‘Those who matter to me understand our shared humanity. We are all human, and it’s part of our nature to learn, progress, and become better individuals by experiencing errors in life.’
‘For that to be shown on TV, it almost humanises you and makes you more relatable.’
Professionally speaking, their joint return appears to have fueled growth in both of their careers, a fact that friends attribute as another key reason behind their prolonged relationship.
In 2023, Sam claimed the title of Jungle King following his victory on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, while Zara made history as the inaugural Love Island contestant to join Strictly Come Dancing that very same year.
Although she came in 10th place, her performance on the show was eventually eclipsed by her partner, Graziano Di Prima, aged 30. Unfortunately, he was removed from the series following allegations of verbally and physically abusing their co-star Zara, after she had expressed concerns about his behavior.
For this year’s series, Zara, known for her documentary work with the BBC as well, found herself seated among the audience alongside Sam, offering their backing to their dear friend Pete Wicks, aged 37.
What were the signs they had eventually split for good?
Only a few weeks following their public appearance at Strictly, the pair decided to end their relationship, as they had already spent New Year’s apart.
On New Year’s Eve, Sam rejoiced by socializing with his former Made In Chelsea peers Reza Amiri-Garroussi (age 36) and Josh Patterson (age 34), at London’s Kensington Roof Gardens. They enjoyed rounds of drinks together, while Zara opted to spend her night in, relaxing with her pets at home.
In my own holiday season, I found myself taking a different path from my partner. While I chose to dedicate time to a worthy cause by volunteering for charity, my better half opted to stay close to her loved ones in Upminster, Essex with her cherished family members.
According to a reliable insider, Sam and Zara have decided to go their separate ways, a choice that has been extremely challenging for both of them. Despite the split, they continue to hold affection and admiration towards each other.
After a challenging year filled with dedication to their relationship, they’ve decided to separate and concentrate on their respective careers from the year 2025 onwards.
Their current situation isn’t due to any controversy or disagreement; instead, it stems from a challenging year that demanded their individual attention and commitment towards their respective projects.
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2025-01-02 17:49