Dancing On Ice star Carlotta Edwards reportedly blames her estranged husband Alexander Demetriou’s skate partner Maura Higgins for their marriage breakdown.
The professional skater, 30, is believed to have told her pals that she doesn’t buy that her ex Alexander didn’t have feelings for the Love Island star, 29.
Just last week Alexander insisted that there was no romantic connection between himself and Maura, however he claimed his wife grew ‘jealous’ of their friendship.
Heartache: Dancing On Ice star Carlotta Edwards reportedly blames her estranged husband Alexander Demetriou’s skate partner Maura Higgins (pictured) for their marriage breakdown
Carlotta is reportedly hurt that Alexander publicly said she was jealous over their close bond and is ‘devastated’ over their split.
A source told the Sun: ‘She’s upset by his accusations of jealousy and doesn’t believe he didn’t have romantic feelings for Maura.
‘As far as she’s concerned they were happy, then she came on the scene and their marriage fell apart.’
MailOnline have contacted representatives for Carlotta, Alexander and Maura.
Not having it! The professional skater, 30, is believed to have told her pals that she doesn’t buy that her ex Alexander didn’t have feelings for the Love Island star, 29 (pictured Nov 2019)
This comes after Alexander spoke candidly about the breakdown of his marriage and said of his now-estranged wife: ‘I didn’t want to lead her on anymore.’
Alexander admitted that his ‘close bond’ with Maura was tough for Carlotta to witness, with their relationship eventually breaking down.
Last month, Alexander confirmed that he had separated from his ice skater wife, in a statement posted to his Instagram stories.
Claims: Just last week Alexander insisted that there was no romantic connection between himself and Maura, however he claimed his wife grew ‘jealous’ of their friendship (pictured February 2020)
He wrote: ‘I’m Sorry I have been quiet on social media recently but it’s been a tough time for me personally.
‘Carlotta and I have separated. Although it saddens me that we can no longer be together, I feel this is best for both of us.
‘I’m looking forward to what the future will bring but in the meantime let’s all say home and stay safe.’
In the middle: Alexander admitted that his ‘close bond’ with Maura was tough for Carlotta to see, with their relationship eventually breaking down
And in an interview with The Sun, Alexander opened up about the factors that ended his four-year marriage to the Canadian native.
He said: ‘I think Carlotta found it hard to see me close, yet so professional, with Maura. It had an impact on her.
‘I told Carlotta we needed a break but I knew it was for good. I didn’t want to lead her on any more. She was shocked at how serious it was.’
He went on to say that it was his decision to call time on their union, adding that Carlotta was ‘very upset’.
He added: ‘Several times I had to explain to Carlotta that Maura and I were just friends. Once the rumours start, it becomes a conversation – it was hard for Maura being called a homewrecker online.’
Alexander also stated that he and the former grid girl became ’emotionally dependent’ on each other as the pressure of competition intensified.
Tough time: Speaking candidly about the breakdown of his marriage, the professional skater said of his now-estranged wife: ‘I didn’t want to lead her on any more’
Discussing his friendship with Maura, Alexander explained that they became friends as soon as Dancing On Ice training began, and they ‘never hid’ their ‘close bond’.
The skater went on to say that having a closeness with his skate partners was vital in building up trust, especially when it came to performing jaw-dropping and often dangerous stunts.
He added that he was ‘fortunate’ that he and Maura got along so well and that they ‘understood each other’ and calmed one another down.
Further discussing the collapse of his marriage, Alexander said the intense training with separate partners in different parts of the country for long periods of time put a strain on their romance.
While Carlotta was in Solihull rehearsing with her then partner Ben Hamlin, Alexander and Maura were down in Essex.
Bond: ‘Several times I had to explain to Carlotta that Maura and I were just friends. Once the rumours start, it becomes a conversation’
He added that the pair ‘hardly saw each other’ and that the distance was a ‘massive shock’ to the system which ‘took it’s toll’ on their marriage.
MailOnline contacted representatives of Carlotta and Alex, who declined to comment. Maura’s representatives were also approached.
Meanwhile, the star was quick to shut down romance rumours with Maura and said that he ‘never’ saw her on a romantic level, adding that they ‘still talk’ but just as friends.
Alexander also spoke about his battle depression last year, with his therapy sessions making him realise that he had no future with Carlotta.
Following the couple’s split announcement, Carlotta has remained silent, and has instead been hauled up in Calgary, Canada with her family.
Split: ‘I told Carlotta we needed a break but I knew it was for good. I didn’t want to lead her on any more. She was shocked at how serious it was’
The reports came after it was claimed Maura split from her Love Island boyfriend Curtis Pritchard earlier this year after rows over her friendship with the skater.
Responding to speculation linking Maura and Alex, Curtis recently revealed that Maura forbid him from coming to watch her skate with Alex and that he’s sure nothing ‘more’ happened between the pair.
Curtis, 24, said to The Sun: ‘I have no proof that anything more has happened between them. I don’t like to think about it.
‘I don’t want to look back over the past few months for warning signs. But it’s not nice to read about her relationship with Alex and to see pictures of them together.
Did they, didn’t they? The reports came after it was claimed Maura split from her Love Island boyfriend Curtis Pritchard earlier this year after rows over her friendship with the skater
‘I went to her first three shows, but after that she asked me not to come. She said she had terrible nerves and it was easier without me there. I just accepted that. I wasn’t concerned about there being anything romantic between her and Alex.’
Meanwhile, Maura recently insisted that she was ‘just friends’ with the pro skater.
The reality star made the admission when taking part in an Instagram Q&A last weekend, when asked by a fan if she’s bothered by the speculation surrounding their relationship.
Maura shared in response: ‘It doesn’t bother me. We’re in 2020 and a man and women cannot just be friends.’
She then zoomed in on her face and said: ‘Pure sh*** you know.’
