They have been plagued by speculation their marriage is on the rocks, two years after tying the knot, with Karen reportedly enjoying a short-lived romance with a hunky accountant.
But the Strictly Come Dancing professional, 35, hinted that she was staying strong in the face of her troubles in a defiant Instagram post with an entry from her journal that included the words: ‘Self-destruction is not an option.’
The full post read: ‘Wake up early tomorrow. Eat a good breakfast. Do your hair and makeup and put on a kick-ass outfit.
‘Self-destruction is not an option’: Defiant Strictly dancer Karen Clifton has hinted at staying strong amid marital woes with husband Kevin in social media post (pictured in April)
‘Buy your cup of coffee and enjoy every sip of it. Go to work, make that money, and learn something new in the process.
‘Nourish. Grow. Inspire. Self-destruction is not an option. And let every choice you make be a brick in the foundation of rebuilding yourself.’
Karen wrote alongside the post: ‘2018 #happynewyear.’
The dancer is thought to have spent the festive season without her husband, also 35, as they give one another space.
Lots to think about: Karen shared an extract from her journal as she reflected on events from the past year
Her love: Karen also shared this snap of herself with her rescue dog, but there was no mention of Kevin
A source told The Sun ahead of Christmas: ‘Karen will fly to New York and spend it with her family while Kevin plans to travel up to Grimsby to be with his. Right now they are just trying to get through the last two weeks of Strictly and then need some space.
‘They will get back together after Christmas and decide what they are going to do. Right now their marriage hangs in the balance and their future together as a couple looks very uncertain.’
Kevin and Karen married in an idyllic ceremony in July 2015, with a bevy of superstar guests however earlier this year they were first hit with reports of strife.
Speaking about his wife after their wedding, Kevin said: ‘We have such a good laugh together all the time. My life wouldn’t be what it is today if it wasn’t for Karen. She’s perfect. She’s always been my best friend.’
Adding fuel to the fire? Karen and husband were seen keeping their distance from each other while attending the wedding of Strictly’s Artistic Director and Choreographer Jason Gilkison in Liverpool on Thursday
Karen is said to have become embroiled in an affair with accountant Stuart Wood however the couple are said to have split at the end of last month.
Insiders told The Sun: ‘It was never a long term thing and Karen realises that she made a mistake. She ended things with Stuart shortly after the news broke. He is heartbroken as he thought they had a future together’.
Karen and Kevin were most recently seen keeping their distance from each other while attending the wedding of Strictly’s Artistic Director and Choreographer Jason Gilkison in Liverpool on Thursday.
They were joined by a bevy of stars, old and new, from the BBC hit series, including Karen’s claimed ‘love rival’ Louise Redknapp, 43, Kevin’s former dance partner, who had performed on the night for guests.
They were joined by a bevy of stars, old and new, from the hit series, including Karen’s claimed ‘love rival’ Louise Redknapp, 43, Kevin’s former dance partner, who had performed on the night for guests.
Star-studded: Louise Redknapp joined Karen and Kevin at the bash following reports surfacing claiming Karen had allegedly told Louise’s husband Jamie Redknapp to ‘keep her away’ from her beau when the footballer rang her with concerns over Louise and Kevin’s close relationship
In an awkward turn of events, his former dance partner Louise had also been in attendance at the wedding, where she had performed a number of her hits up on stage.
She joined Karen and Kevin at the bash following reports surfacing claiming his wife Karen had allegedly told Louise’s husband Jamie Redknapp to ‘keep her away’ from her beau when the footballer rang her with concerns over Louise’s close relationship with Kevin.
Sources claim the Strictly Come Dancing professional had been ‘very upset’ at the time of the call and had told Jamie to ‘try and keep Louise’ away from Kevin, accusing the singer of ‘ruining’ her marriage.
After becoming aware of Louise ‘texting’ Kevin, Jamie reportedly decided to reach out to Karen, with the source claiming: ‘He made the decision to call Karen without Louise’s knowledge, which was a very hard thing for him to do.
‘He asked Karen if he thought their partners were having an affair. Karen was very upset at the time and that’s when she asked Jamie to try and keep Louise away from Kevin.’
The source added that ’emotions had been running high’, while another source deemed close to Louise claimed the Naked singer had been left ‘furious’ by husband Jamie’s actions, as she had been friends with Karen and the accusations had made things between them ‘unnecessarily uncomfortable’.
MailOnline had contacted a representative for Karen and Kevin and representatives for both Louise and Jamie at the time.
Strained: Karen and Kevin, reportedly spent Christmas Day apart in order to ‘give each other space’, amid their marital woes, according to reports