In the wake of Formula One’s Christian Horner crisis, we investigate if it’s ever possible to rebuild the trust in a relationship
WORDS: FIONA FORD. PHOTOS: GETTY
For the last few weeks, we’ve all been gripped by the scandal that Spice Girl Geri Halliwell-Horner has found herself caught up in with husband Christian Horner. The Red Bull Formula One boss was accused of sending flirtatious messages to a female Red Bull employee – allegations Christian firmly denied.
The Formula One team launched a three-week investigation into the claims and Christian was cleared of any wrongdoing regarding allegations of coercive behaviour (the employee has since been suspended). However, the scandal has placed an unwelcome spotlight on the couple with reports that Geri has been in tears and there’s been speculation that the claims may have fractured their bond. But it seems she is determined to show the world that she is willing to stand by her man, after they were photographed in a very public embrace at the Bahrain Grand Prix and Christian Horner publicly praised his wife for being very supportive. We speak to one woman who understands the very private pain Geri is facing.
‘IT’S ABOUT RESPECT’
Writer Samantha Brick, 53, is married and lives in south-west France.
When it comes to social media accounts, direct message apps and emails, I am a total snoop. Even though I have been married for 16 years I firmly believe in openness when it comes to all forms of communication. One of the unspoken rules in my marriage is we don’t have secrets and we don’t hide anything from one another. But it seems, even with strict rules in place, flirty messages still find their way through. I understand Geri’s pain because the cavemen brains of our other halves cannot cope with having access to so many forms of online communication and my husband is a prime example. During lockdown he spent a lot of time on Instagram and he became absolutely enamoured with one female French chef’s account. Her way of baking bread was apparently second to none. Reading his comments of his undying love of her sourdough on her page was one thing. But the day I read private messages from him to her crossed the line.
My husband is a bit of a novice when it comes to social media – he doesn’t have any other account except Instagram. I have no doubt his messages were totally innocent, and when he replied to her stories they went to her private messages so they weren’t public. But them being private felt so much worse – their communic
