Sam Faiers and Ferne McCann's once super close friendship is over, five years on from their first infamous fallout in 2017.
The two stars have had a rocky relationship over the years, with the pair once famously clashing over their rival TV shows, but things appeared to be all good between the Essex natives of late - with Ferne even appearing on Sam's podcast to chat about life as a mum back in May.
But the former TOWIE stars and childhood pals have fallen out again over recent weeks, after Sam, 31, accused newly-engaged Ferne, 32 of speaking badly behind her back. Ferne is yet to speak about the allegations at all.
Sam and her sister Billie Shepherd's mum took to social media this morning [September 28] to slam her kid's former friend and defend her daughters.
Suzie Wells, 53, said within her lengthy statement: "Ferne has always been a very close family friend to all of us for over the past 20 years. It appears this voice note was sent just weeks after Samantha gave birth back in May.
"Since this voice note has surfaced more have been sent - very upsetting nasty things. We are as shocked as you are! Nobody should ever speak about their friends like this ever!"
Sam and Ferne's friendship goes back years, with the two woman becoming mates way before they both became household names thanks to TOWIE, but after a few years in the limelight together the stars clashed over their respective post-TOWIE projects.
Following the birth of their children, with Ferne being a mum to Sunday, four, and Sam welcoming kids Paul Jr, six, daughter Rose, four, and newborn Edward into the world over the years, both women fronted their very own reality TV shows about motherhood - with Sam's The Mummy Diaries airing before Ferne's venture, First Time Mum.
The similar formats was said to have caused tension between the former friends back in 2017, with a source saying at the time: "Ferne was never going to turn down the show as it was an opportunity for her to make money for Sunday but without Sam's support the breakdown of their friendship was inevitable."
Things got even frostier when Sam decided to announce the name of her daughter Rosie and the day the first episode of First Time Mum aired - something that was seen as an attempt to steal a bit of focus from Ferne at the time.
"We fell out because I went ahead and filmed for this show," Ferne admitted when addressing the fall out. "After the year I've had, I haven't got the energy to entertain feuds. I just want positivity around me."
Sam also commented on the feud, telling the Mirror: "Over quite a long period of time, we haven't seen eye to eye on a number of things. We've drifted apart from each other. We've grown up and grown apart but there's no major feud."
However, the pair seemed to put their differences aside for Sam's sister Billie's four-day Ibiza hen do in 2018, and their friendship eventually got back on track - with Sam even making a cameo on Ferne's ITV show during season 5.
As recently as May this year, the two women appeared to be on good terms as Ferne chatted to Sam and Billie on an episode of their podcast, but the mum-of-one slipped up during her audio catch-up with the siblings - admitting she doesn't usually listen to their show.
Putting Ferne on the spot, Sam asked: "So Ferne, we speak about you regularly on the show. I don’t know if you listen to us?"
Ferne then inadvertently threw herself under the bus by revealing that, no, she doesn’t tune in week after week and instead just listens to highlights on social media – and that her assistant listens to the show instead.
She explained: "I’ve tuned in… I’ve tuned… erm… Do you know what? I really like the bite sized bits on social media.
"And my PA, she listens to your podcast regularly and she said; ‘Oh! This come up about you the other day!’ And I love it."
Earlier this week, it was reported the Celebrity SAS star and Sam were no longer on speaking terms, thanks to the expletive voice note allegedly sent by Ferne doing the rounds on social media.
"My girls are my absolute everything and I'll do anything to protect them. I don't have anything to say on the matter," Sam and Billie's mum Suzie said on Instagram when addressing the alleged voice message.
Sam is believed to have unfollowed and blocked Ferne since hearing the message.
A source told The Mirror: "Naturally Sam is incredibly hurt and upset by these comments, especially from someone she considered to be a good friend, she's at a loss as to why Ferne has decided to speak out about her in such a derogatory way."
The Mirror has reached out to Ferne's rep for comment. Ferne has not yet responded to Suzie's Instagram Story.
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