The heartbroken woman at the centre of a high society love rift admits she’s been ‘putting on a brave face’ as she copes with the loss of her husband and best friend.
Ellie Aitken’s husband, Charlie, announced last month he’d separated from his wife of 19 years and moved on with her younger best friend, Hollie Nasser.
The move sent shockwaves throughout their tightknit eastern suburbs circles, particularly since Ms Nasser was not only Ellie’s best friend, but married to Charlie’s business partner, Christopher.
‘The truth is that despite the support of friends and family I have not coped well with the deeply hurtful lies, gossip and innuendo that has surrounded the breakdown of my relationship,’ Ellie said in a statement on Tuesday morning.
She announced she would be ‘taking a break from social media’ and public view while she and her family adjust to the separation and her estranged husband’s new relationship.
‘I had attempted to put on a brave face and tried to manage my feelings and wellbeing despite the fact that I have not had any control over the reasons for my sorrow.’
Mr Aitken and his wife Ellie had been long-time friends of the Nasser’s, and Mr Nasser was a director of the Aitken’s wealth management company
Ms Aitken uploaded a heated conversation she had with her former best friend on Instagram on Sunday
Ms Aitken had attempted to maintain a dignified silence and was regrettable ‘pushed to [her] limit’ over the weekend, resulting in a rogue Instagram post calling out Ms Nasser.
The post accused her former friend of ‘bullying’ her and exposed a series of texts between the two women.
Ms Aitken shared a text message she had received from Ms Nasser to Instagram accusing her of ‘playing the victim’ and blaming her for ‘ruining her marriage’.
‘Ellie there’s no point in us talking anymore,’ Ms Nasser’s message begins.
‘I can’t believe after… you are out there playing the victim and saying I ruined your perfect marriage.’
The Instagram post was deleted within minutes, but not before it was shared widely among eastern suburbs social circles.
Now, Ms Aitken acknowledges sharing the private texts only ‘made a painful matter worse’ and acknowledged she’s struggling to navigate such a public split.
Their life of glitz and glamour suddenly came tumbling down after it was revealed Ms Nasser was now in a relationship with Mr Aitken (pictured, Ellie and Charlie Aitken)
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The Nassers and Aitkens were two of Sydney’s biggest high-flying power couples before a scandalous love triangle tore them apart (pictured, Hollie and Christopher Nasser)
‘It is a situation that I honestly never expected to endure, let alone so publicly.
‘The media focus on the private lives of the families involved continues to impact those affected by the choices and actions of others.’
Ms Aitken hopes to ‘press pause’ on her public life and take time to heal with her children as she and Mr Aitken begin co-parenting.
Within minutes, Ms Aitken’s friends had flooded the Instagram post with well wishes and supportive comments.
Sources within the Aitken’s and Nasser’s social circles say they’re devastated both for Ms Aitken and Mr Nasser, who were said to be ‘totally blindsided’ by the new relationship.
Clutching a purse with her name on the front and wearing an expensive watch, Ms Aitken appeared busy as ever walking through the streets of Double Bay
Ms Nasser constantly described Mr Nasser as ‘the best husband and father’ she and her children could have ever hoped for – sharing photos of extravagant holidays, helicopter trips and days at sea on luxury yachts.
‘The most amazing husband and dad,’ she wrote alongside a photo of Mr Nasser and his daughter. ‘You are our everything. We love you so much.’
Ms Nasser was simultaneously telling her best friend she had a ‘perfect family’ and that she and Mr Aitken were ‘the best couple’.
On one occasion, she described Ms Aitken as ‘the most beautiful soul’.
Ms Nasser, 36, has been splitting her time between her marital home and a serviced apartment in Bondi Junction where her new beau is now living.
On Monday afternoon, Ms Nasser returned home after spending the morning with Mr Aitken at his apartment. She wore a $4,500 outfit including a Louis Vuitton scarf and matching handbag paired with Hermes sandals.
She looked glum as she rushed into her house with her hair tied back in a low ponytail.
On Monday afternoon, Ms Nasser returned to her Paddington home after spending the morning with Mr Aitken at his apartment. She wore a $4,500 outfit including a Louis Vuitton scarf and matching handbag paired with Hermes sandals
Ms Nasser shared an insight into her relationship over the years with pictures of international holidays and helicopter trips
Meanwhile Ms Aitken, 42, looked composed while running errands in Sydney’s east wearing black activewear and more than $85,000 worth of jewellery.
She clutched a purse with her name on the front while wearing a watch worth about $43,800 as she walked through the streets of Double Bay.
The Van Cleef and Arpels pendant around her neck also sells for about $43,000 and Ms Aitken also wore a diamond encrusted tennis bracelet and matching earrings.
FEUDING FRIENDS TEXT EXCHANGE MADE PUBLIC
In an Instagram post, Ms Aitken shared a text message she had received from Ms Nasser accusing her of ‘playing the victim’ and blaming her for ‘ruining her marriage’.
‘Ellie there’s no point in us talking anymore,’ Ms Nasser’s message begins.
‘I can’t believe after… you are out there playing the victim and saying I ruined your perfect marriage.’
Ms Nasser also claimed Ms Aitken had posted photos online of her smiling alongside her husband of more than 20 years at their son’s rugby team award night on Friday to gain media attention.
Just hours after pictures confirmed Mr Aitken had set up home with his new love, Ms Aitken tried to maintain a united front by sharing photos of the family at the function in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on Instagram.
‘Of course putting photos of [your son] on public Instagram was going in the paper, you knew that when you posted it,’ Ms Nasser said in the text.
Ms Aitken uploaded a heated conversation she had with her former best friend on Instagram on Sunday
Ms Nasser denied that Mr Aitken had spent the weekend at her house, claiming photographs that placed him there on Friday only showed him dropping her off.
‘Charlie was not at my house last night and I’ve got mum staying here,’ she continued.
‘I’ve had photographers here since Friday and still here now surrounding my house I’m not that dumb. He dropped me outside my house on Friday and that’s it. I know he is staying at the Meriton.’
But Ms Aitken refused to believe the claims, saying her husband had admitted he was there.
‘Darling I was watching him there with the white plantation shutters behind which we photographed on FaceTime and he told me he was there having pizza,’ Ms Aitken’s reply text reads.
Ms Aitken added superimposed text at the bottom of the Instagram story, reading: ‘Stop lying and bullying me @hollie.nasser. Enough.’
The screen grab of the heated message exchange was deleted a short time later.
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