Chris Hughes was pictured having a tense conversation with his girlfriend Jesy Nelson just moments before he was involved in a violent altercation with a photographer after Tuesday’s National Television Awards.
Love Island star Chris, 27, had been at the awards with the Little Mix singer, 28, who took home the gong for Best Factual Programme, for her critically-acclaimed BBC Three documentary.
Hours after she thanked her boyfriend of one year in her acceptance speech, Jesy was pictured appearing to argue with Chris inside the lobby of the InterContinental Hotel, before they left separately.
Tense: Chris Hughes was pictured having a tense conversation with his girlfriend Jesy Nelson just moments before he was involved in a violent altercation with a photographer after Tuesday’s National Television Awards
Scuffle: Chris’ tense conversation with Jesy occurred just moments before his violent brawl with a photographer
Chris and Jesy looked tense as they talked in the crowded lobby of the hotel, which neighbours London’s O2 arena, where the NTA’s had earlier taken place.
Dressed in her afterparty look of a green leather jumpsuit, Jesy didn’t look impressed as her boyfriend spoke.
After the conversation, the couple went their separate ways with Jesy heading to a taxi with her stylist friend Jamie McFarland, while Chris left through a side door with his manager.
Long night: Hours after she thanked her boyfriend of one year in her acceptance speech, Jesy was pictured with Chris inside the lobby of the InterContinental Hotel
Couple: Dressed in her afterparty look of a green leather jumpsuit, Jesy didn’t look impressed as her boyfriend spoke
Separated: After the conversation, the couple went their separate ways with the singer heading to a taxi while Chris left through another exit
Walking away: Jesy, who won an NTA earlier in the evening for her BBC documentary, was seen walking away from Chris while he headed outside with his manager
It was as Chris emerged from the lobby that he had a violent brawl with a photographer. The incident is now being investigated by the Met Police.
The following morning, Chris took to social media to apologise to his girlfriend and admitted the night ‘should have been about her’ and not the scrape.
Chris wrote on social media: ‘I want to address last night’s altercation. I was having an amazing night celebrating the award my girlfriend deservedly won…
Leaving: Jesy left with friends as Chris looked on, before he was seen fighting with a photographer outside the hotel
Tense scenes: Chris didn’t look happy as he headed toward the door of the hotel
Intense: When he stepped outside the reality star was seen grabbing a photographer by his hood in a violent brawl which is now being investigated by police
‘After coming out of our hotel a particular paparazzi decided to repeatedly call me a name I wouldn’t call my worst enemy, and physically try and start an altercation. As everyone can see I retaliated back badly to this – which I regret…
‘I’m human. No different to anyone else’s however I want to make everyone aware this was only in self defense. I hope people I care about including my followers, family and friends can understand and forgive me.
‘This night was about Jesy’s win and I am sorry if I distracted anyone from this. Ultimately, I’m the proudest boyfriend ever and want to congratulate my amazing girlfriend for a deserving win. I am proud of you.’
Oh dear…The following morning, Chris took to social media to apologise to his girlfriend and admitted the night ‘should have been about her’ and not the scrape
Shortly before he released his statement, it was revealed that a police investigation was set to be launched.
A Met Police spokesman told MailOnline: ‘We can confirm that at 03:52hrs on Wednesday, 29 January, police received a report of assault and criminal damage following an altercation between two men at Waterview Drive, Greenwich…
‘The incident is reported to have taken place at a time between 23:00hrs on Tuesday, 28 January and 01:00hrs on Wednesday, 29 January.
‘The reported criminal damage relates to photographic equipment. There were no reported injuries. There have been no arrests. Enquiries continue.’
Regrets? The ex Love Island star, 27, appeared to calm down from his scuffle as he put his head in his hands and joined girlfriend Jesy, 28, and her stylist Jamie in the taxi after his outburst
The photographer involved told MailOnline his account of the altercation, explaining: ‘I am a freelance photographer so I only earn money depending on what pictures I sell – I really wanted a picture a Chris and Jesy together.’
‘However, they exited the hotel separately and I was disappointed as a picture of Chris on his own doesn’t really sell.’
‘I’m sorry for the language, but I said: ‘that’s a c***’ under my breath. I was referring to the situation and not to Chris.’
‘He took it the wrong way and flipped his lid. He came for me with punches and kicks. I walked away but he came back three or four times. He kept coming at me.
Altercation: The celebrations looked to be short-lived, as Chris found himself grappling with a photographer outside the O2 in the early hours of Wednesday morning
‘He caused damage to my £1k camera which he kicked twice. It’s now in the hands of the police.’
Chris was seen outside the Arena’s neighbouring hotel – the five-star InterContinental – separately from Jesy, lugging several bags with him.
Bow-tie untied, the reality TV hunk was heading for a waiting cab, in which Jesy was waiting with another of their friends, when the incident took place.
While details are sparse on how the altercation came about, Chris was seen being approached by the bundled-up photographer, looking irritated.
The pair were seen grappling with one another as Chris left his bags on the pavement, clasping at the photographer’s coat, as they scuffled outside the East-London venue.
Aggressive! The grapple appeared to get very intense at times
Drama! The altercation got very heated between the two men
Tussle: The pair were seen grappling with one another as Chris left his bags on the pavement, clasping at the photographer’s coat, as they scuffled outside the East-London venue
The fight was soon broken up, with Chris ushered into the taxi with his pop star partner and Jesy’s stylist and friend, Jamie McFarland.
The altercation was stopped by Chris’ manager, Chris Drake, who tried to calm the Celebrity Hunted star down.
Chris appeared riled up by the incident, which would have put a dampner on an otherwise emotional night for him and Jesy.
Calm down! The altercation was stopped by Chris’ manager, Chris Drake, who tried to calm the Celebrity Hunted star down
Pals: Earlier in the night, Chris had called his manager one of his ‘favourite humans’
Fuming: Chris still appeared to be fuming as he got into the taxi with Jesy and her friend
Agitated: The former Love Island star appeared agitated as he explained what had happened to his girlfriend and her backup dancer
Keeping their distance: Jesy’s pal led her away from the drama
Stay away: Earlier in the evening, Jesy’s documentary Odd One Out won its NTA, with the pop star taking to the stage to deliver an emotional thank you to the voters
Exit strategy: Chris was seen outside the Arena’s neighbouring hotel – the five-star InterContinental – separately from Jesy, lugging several bags with him
Calling it a night: Bow-tie untied, the reality TV hunk was heading for a waiting cab, in which Jesy was waiting
On the approach: While details are sparse on how the altercation came about, Chris was seen being approached by the bundled-up photographer, looking irritated
Leave it out! The fight was soon broken up, with the men pulled apart from each other
Volatile: The altercation was stopped by Chris’ manager, who tried to calm the Celebrity Hunted star down
Getaway car: Chris was then ushered into the taxi with his pop star partner and her backing dancer pal
Fuming! Chris appeared riled up by the incident, which would have put a dampner on an otherwise emotional night for him and Jesy
What a shame: The night had been a special one for Jesy and Chris, who both starred in the documentary
Ouch! Things got very heated in the street outside the O2
Earlier in the evening, Jesy’s documentary Odd One Out won its NTA, with the pop star taking to the stage to deliver an emotional thank you to the voters.
The Shout Out To My Ex songstress was seen holding hands with Chris – who appeared on Love Island in 2017 – eagerly waiting to hear whether or not she had won the gong.
After the result was announced, she planted a tender kiss on Chris’ lips, who then watched her accept the statuette on-stage, alongside the documentary’s director and producer.
Turn of events: The incident proved a sour note to end the NTAs on for the pair
Get me home: Jesy held hands with her friend in the back of the taxi
Let’s go! Chris and Jesy have been dating since 2018
Regrets: Inside the cab looked to be a very sombre affair
Explanation: Jesy seemed saddened by the turn the evening had taken
Outfit change: Jesy had changed into a khaki green number following the NTA ceremony
Teary-eyed, Chris watched from the audience, as Jesy thanked several people involved in making the film – which detailed the abuse she received after winning The X Factor in 2011 with her band Little Mix.
In the documentary, Jesy tells of how she was targeted by trolls who branded her too ‘fat and ugly’ to be a pop star.
She took the stage and said: ‘This is so overwhelming, I’m such a baby [for crying]. I want to thank every single person in the documentary for being so brave and courageous for telling their story.
Calm down! Chris was placated by his manager, who took matters into his own hands
Break it up! The ruckus saw the men torn apart from one another
Raging! Chris appeared very angry about what had happened
Enough is enough! The fight broke up eventually thanks to Chris’ manager and nearby security
Stop! It appeared to take a while for the TV personality to cool down
Earlier: Chris put on a very different display hours earlier at the awards
Prior: Ahead of the altercation, Jesy was seen barefoot in her hotel lobby in her stunning orange gown
Spruced up: The put on a glam display earlier in the night
Support: The couple held hands in the audience as they waited to hear who had won the Factual Award
Teary-eyed: Chris watched from the audience, as Jesy thanked several people involved in making the film
Sweet: ‘I want to thank my mum for being the most inspirational woman in the world. I want to thank Chris, my boyfriend, for bringing me up every day,’ Jesy gushed in her speech
‘I want to thank my mum for being the most inspirational woman in the world. I want to thank Chris, my boyfriend, for bringing me up every day.
‘I want to thank everyone who voted. Such a negative experience in my life turned into a positive one and that’s all thanks to you guys.’
Jesy’s bandmates Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Jade Thirlwall and Perrie Edwards were not in attendance at the NTAs, but have proven pillars of support to her throughout it.