Swimming champion Adam Peaty is said to have had his head turned by fiancee Holly Ramsay’s fame and money – and now feels ashamed of his own working class family.
Peaty, 30, and Holly have dramatically banned his mother Caroline from attending their forthcoming wedding – and now family sources blame the explosive feud on him becoming starry eyed.
The public snub to Caroline Peaty came after a row blew up when Holly, 25, didn’t invite her future mother-in-law to her hen party at Soho Farmhouse attended by celebrities like Holly’s mum Tana and Victoria Beckham.
Now a source close to Caroline, 59, has given her side of the story for the first time – and told how she feels so hurt she thinks her son sees her as ‘not good enough’ to match up with the Ramsays socially.
They told The Daily Mail: ‘Adam has changed so much ever since he has been with Holly. She’s from a celebrity world and his parents are not, and his ego and self importance has just got bigger. He’s not the lovely boy next door that we all remember him as.
‘Adam has changed and he is almost a bully. He has been so horrible to his mum and he is now trying to exclude her from his life. She is worried sick about all this and can’t believe it is happening.
‘We think Holly has triggered all this, and her parents – the power of the rich and famous.’
The future Olympian was always very close to his mother who would get up at 4am to drive him to swimming events all around the UK as he established himself in the sport in which he would eventually win three gold medals.
But when he started dating and then became engaged to media star Holly – and met her celebrity chef father Gordon Ramsay and their showbiz circle including the Beckhams – he is said to have changed.
The source added: ‘Caroline is not good enough for his new family. She doesn’t fit into the celebrity mould and she doesn’t look like them and dress like them.
Things have become so fraught in the run up to the wedding that there has even been a complaint made to the police which was apparently linked to the dramatic bust-up with his family – though it remains unclear exactly what sparked the ‘ongoing police matter’.
A source close to the Peaty family revealed that the swimmer had left his mother ‘heartbroken’ after her sister’s postÂ
A source close to Adam’s working class family said the snub happened after the swimmer had distanced himself from her after being seduced by the fame and glamour of the RamsaysÂ
The Daily Mail exclusively revealed yesterday how Caroline, who suffers from fibromyalgia was devastated after she was left off the guest list for Holly’s glamorous hen party at the celebrity hotspot Soho Farmhouse last weekend.
She was left at home in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, looking after Adam’s son George, five, while Holly posted Instagram pictures of her pre-nuptial celebration attended by her mother Tania, her two sisters and Victoria Beckham.
Caroline’s anguish was first revealed in a social media post by her sister Louise Williams who hit out at influencer Holly, accusing her of being ‘divisive and hurtful’ over the snub to her future mother-in-law who had ‘opened her home and heart to you’.
Louise said on Instagram that Caroline’s lack of an invite to the hen weekend, made worse by Holly’s father Gordon being asked by Adam to attend his stag party, had inflicted ‘a hurt on my sister that will take a very long time to heal if ever’.
The source revealed that the swimmer had left his mother ‘heartbroken’ after her sister’s post by contacting her to ban her from the wedding and to tell her she would not see his son George or any future grandchildren again.
As the row deepened Adam is even said to have threatened to disown his family.
Caroline herself went public with her distress in an Instagram post which stated: ‘Crying is a way your eyes speak when your mouth can’t explain how broken your heart is.’
Adam met digital creator Holly in October 2021 when he was competing on Strictly Come Dancing where other contestants included her sister Tilly, 24, who is best known for presenting the CBBC cookery show Matilda and the Ramsay Bunch.
He split with his partner of three years Eirianedd Munro, the mother of his son George, nearly a year later in August 2022, revealing the break-up in an Instagram post which stated that he was ‘sorry’ for ‘letting down’ her and his son.
The couple had started dating in 2019 after meeting at the University of Loughborough, with Eirianedd falling pregnant not long into their relationship.
Adam had raised eyebrows over his on-screen chemistry with pro partner Katya Jones on the dance programme, particularly when they performed a sexy routine to Tango in the Night by Fleetwood Mac on week four.
The Daily Mail can reveal bride-to-be Holly, the daughter of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, caused ‘deep upset’ by not welcoming Adam’s mother Caroline at her hen party this weekend
A source close to Adam’s family said they believed the ‘heartbreaking’ rift had been developing between the swimming star and his mother ever since he began dating Holly
As the dance came to an end, Adam dipped Katya back and leaned in with his lips close to hers. He appeared to lean in closer once again as they stood up before pulling away, leaving viewers believing he initially intended to kiss his partner.
However, despite speculation about the pair on X, Eirianedd joked about the steamy routine, even sharing a video on TikTok showing herself pretending to cry alongside the caption: ‘Watching your boyfriend almost kiss another woman on live TV’.
Adam and Holly reportedly began dating in May 2023 and quickly confirmed their relationship the following month when they took a loved-up trip to Rome together, and eagerly documented moments from the long weekend for their followers on Instagram.
It was revealed at the time that Adam had also spent time at her family’s £5m holiday mansion in Rock, Cornwall.
They got together shortly after Adam took a competitive break from swimming, after battling depression and alcoholism and declaring that he ‘never wanted to see a pool again’ having been left ‘broken’ by his competitive sport.
But he started training again, crediting the move on his blossoming relationship with Holly, quality time with his son, his Christian faith and encouragement from his coach who told him to get back in the water ‘just to paddle’.
While he went on to find ‘peace in the water’ once more by April last year, when he won the British men’s breaststroke title with his quickest time since 2021, his relationship with his own family appeared to be going far from swimmingly.
The source close to his family, described the gradual breakdown of things with his mother, saying: ‘It’s partly because Adam doesn’t feel his family is good enough for the new one he is now part of.
‘She is a size 20 and some may judge her for being fat and ugly, and looking nothing like the beautiful, super slim guests who will be attending the wedding.’
The source said: ‘Caroline has an illness, fibromyalgia, and is in a lot of pain at times, and it has caused her to put on weight.
‘Adam told her that her condition is made up and that if she went back to work, exercised and dieted she would feel a lot better. He has been so mean to her. He called her a s**t mother. He’s a p***k! She devoted her life to help him pursue his dream.’
Holly, the daughter of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay and his wife Tana, is set to marry her fiancé Adam this Christmas in Bath
The source said that Adam’s parents ‘sacrificed so much’ for him, even putting themselves into debt as he trained for Olympic glory.
They added: ‘Caroline is devastated by the rift and doesn’t know what she has done wrong.
‘Adam’s relationship with his mum and dad Mark are at an all time low, and now she’s not coming to the wedding,
‘She had been so excited and really wanted to be involved, and had offered to make lovely table setting name plates, as she is a skilful craftswoman, but she was told her help wasn’t needed.
‘As time has gone on, things have become strained and there have been rows, the tension has been very fraught. Caroline is in pieces and is absolutely heartbroken that it’s gotten to this point.
‘Caroline and Mark put Adam’s career above everything and supported him through thick and thin so for their relationship to have crumbled is so upsetting.
‘They feel that Adam started to grow distant from his family after he met Holly and they started to become more serious. There is a feeling that money is an issue.
‘His family are working class and proud – it’s a stark contrast to the Ramsay family and some members of the family have said it feels like Adam is ashamed of them.’
Adam and Holly’s wedding is due to be held at Bath Abbey at Christmas with guests set to include the newly knighted Sir David Beckham and his fashion designer wife who have been friends with the Ramsays for many years.
The family source said it was believed that the only member of Adam’s family now due to attend the wedding was his sister Bethany, with nobody else being able to afford the hotel costs.
Bethany was the only member of his family at Holly’s hen celebration at Soho Farmhouse, set in 100 acres of the Oxfordshire countryside.
Holly and Adam have documented their romance with a string of Instagram posts, detailing their celebrity lifestyle, including luxury holidays and attendance at events including Wimbledon, along with his swimming achievements.
Victoria Beckham was among the guests at Holly’s hen party this weekend, held at the celebrity hotspot Soho Farmhouse in Oxfordshire
The Daily Mail revealed yesterday how his mother’s Instagram post about her heart being ‘broken’ had attracted messages of support and concern from friends including one who commented: ‘Don’t let them drag you down Caroline. Neither Adam or the Ramsays are worth it.’
The same person added in a further comment: ‘You know, considering they are both supposed to be mental health advocates they don’t seem to be showing much regard for yours.’
The remark was a reference to the well-publicised mental health struggles of Adam as well as Holly who has talked in the past of her own battle with PTSD, anxiety and depression after being sexually assaulted twice when she was aged 18.
She explained on her podcast 21 & Over in 2021 how she had been in therapy up to three times a week, had a three month stint in a mental health hospital and had given up alcohol.
Caroline followed up her original Instagram comment with another post late last night , saying: ‘When you love someone, you protect them from the pain, you don’t become the cause of it.’
She added a comment to her post, saying: ‘The ones I love are the people who hurt me the most’ followed by a tearful emoji.
Comments made in response to her latest post included one from a supporter saying: ‘Sacrifices you made for his success will never be forgotten or unnoticed. I’m also a fellow swim mama. Much love and respect to you.’
Another person added: ‘Sending you hugs. I read why happened and have been estranged by my daughter and her husband for seven months it’s heartbreaking and cruel. Seems to be a trend nowadays’.
Adam’s mother was always known as one of his staunchest supporters during his swimming career, and famously got up at 4am when he was a boy to drive him for 40 minutes to training sessions with the City of Derby swimming club.
In a punishing routine which went on for more than three years, she would then hang around for up to two hours before driving him home and going to her own job as a nursery manager while her husband and Adam’s father Mark worked as a caretaker at a Lidl store.
Adam won his first Olympic gold in the 100m breaststroke in 2016, and repeated the feat at the 2020 games which were held in Tokyo in 2021 due to Covid. He also got a gold in the mixed relay in Tokyo.
Holly Ramsay and fiancé Adam Peaty are caught in a bitter family feud after the Olympian banned his mother from their wedding
He made a roaring return at the Olympics in Paris last year, earning a silver medal and falling just short of gold by an agonising 0.02 seconds in the breaststroke.
Holly posted a series of pictures on her Instagram account showing her and her friends and family arriving for her stylish pre-wedding bachelorette celebration at the Soho Farmhouse last Friday.
She looked stunning in all white, telling her 400,000 followers: ‘Bachelorette weekend starts now.. I love my sisters and mama so much.’
One picture showed her wearing a long wool coat layered over a long-sleeved top and wide-leg jeans with cream trainers and a cute white bow in her hair while another featured her and Tana walking hand-in-hand.
A further picture showed a beautifully arranged table featuring a personalised champagne bottle, and cups labelled ‘Bride’ and ‘Team Bride’.
More pictures from later on in the weekend, showed Holly in a short white dress, high heels and a bridal head dress while others showed her and guests wearing Adam Peaty face masks.
One group shot of her and her guests, including Victora Beckham, featured alongside a comment, saying: ‘My girls gave me the best weekend, my heart is so full’, accompanied by a heart emoji.
Holly and Adam shared the news of their engagement in September last year in sweet Instagram posts when the swimmer praising her for sticking with him through his ‘lowest times’.
He also added that she embraced the ‘incredible community’ he has found within Christianity and joined his church ‘without question’.
Holly wrote: ‘Thank you for letting the little girl inside of me feel loved, seen and happier than ever. I love you & I cannot wait to be your wife.’
The pair complemented each other’s posts by including bible verses after Adam revealed religion had saved him from addiction.
