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The Fashion Central
The Fashion Central
Michael Gibson

Strictly Curse Strikes Again as Stars Split After 12 Years Together in Heartbreaking Break-Up

(Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images)

It looks like another Strictly Come Dancing romance has come crashing down, as reports claim Kristina Rihanoff and Ben Cohen have called it quits. The couple, who first met on the hit BBC show back in 2013, have reportedly split after months of financial strain took its toll on their relationship.

Their romance has been surrounded by controversy ever since it was rumoured that Ben left his wife of 11 years, Abby, for Kristina after his stint on Strictly. While he has always denied this, many believed the so-called Strictly curse had struck again. Now, insiders are saying the tables have turned, with one friend even calling it “the curse in reverse.”

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A source told The Sun: “Ben left his wife Abby for Kristina, only to now split with her. This will be like karma for Abby, she was so upset when Ben left her. It’s like he has got his comeuppance.”

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Kristina Rihanoff and Ben Cohen Photos
Kristina Rihanoff and Ben Cohen attend the launch photocall for the Strictly Come Dancing live tour. (Photo by Steve Thorne/Getty Images)

The couple, who share a daughter born in 2016 and announced their engagement in 2022, have apparently endured a tough six months that “tore the love they had apart.” Struggling financially, they were forced to put their £1.75 million Northampton home on the market, adding to the stress on their relationship. Those close to them had hoped they would pull through, but now it seems there’s no turning back.

Last year, things were already looking rocky as the pair faced financial woes. Kristina even found herself in court last September after being caught driving without insurance, with Ben acting as her witness. He gave a heartfelt statement in court, saying: “I get up every day and I fight not to lose everything – to lose my cars and my house and my relationship.”

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He admitted to maxed-out credit cards, a struggling business, and debts piled up due to Covid. “We’re still living together… We’re in it financially. We’re in business together so the problem is that we opened the business before Covid and we got the worst severities of it and in all honesty this is just another problem for me to deal with,” he added.

The emotional toll of the situation was evident as Kristina broke down in court, at one point leaving with her hands over her mouth after feeling unwell.

Since leaving Strictly in 2016, Kristina has reinvented herself as a yoga teacher, previously calling her departure from the show a “bittersweet situation” and admitting she felt relieved to leave. Now, with this latest heartbreak, it looks like she’ll be moving on once again—but this time, without Ben.

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