They’ve had a fair few ups and downs over the years, but Gemma Collins and James “Arg” Argent’s romance looked like it was over for good last week, after things took a nasty turn when Arg called his girlfriend a “hippo” and a “fat f--k” via text.
It followed reports that Arg, 32, had told Gem, 39, he wanted an open relationship, crushing her hopes of getting married and having kids in the near future. But his cruel jibes were understandably the final straw – with Gemma telling him, “We’re over”, before posting screengrabs of their conversation to her Instagram Stories.
She also shared a post describing the “Top 10 signs of emotional abuse in a relationship” and told her followers, “Something will happen one day and you will just say enough is enough. It’s in that moment the nightmare is over.”
Arg’s outburst shocked and appalled Gem’s fans and friends, not least because it seemed like he’d turned a corner in the last few months. He’d finally kicked his cocaine addiction and paid tribute to Gemma for her “tough love” and support.
CHECK OUT Gemma Collins' relationship history
HEAT Gemma Collins relationship history SLIDER with cover pic
1 of 13Swipe through to see Gemma Collins' complete relationship history...
2 of 13Rami Hawash, 2011 - 2014 & 2017
Gemma dated Rami Hawash on and off for three years between 2011 and 2014. The owner of a mechanical repairs company in Essex briefly appeared in TOWIE, and the couple were even rumoured to be engaged at one point before they called it off for good in 2014. Gemma sparked rumours that she'd got back together with Rami in March 2017 when she was spotted wearing the engagement ring he'd bought her, but they split for good later in 2017.
3 of 13Charlie King, c. 2012
Gemma was romantically linked to her TOWIE co-star Charlie King, and was pictured holding hands with him in London in April 2012. Although nothing was ever confirmed, Gemma did admitted that they kissed on an episode of TOWIE in March 2017, telling him, "Unbelievable... I'm so glad I shared a kiss with you once." Charlie came out as gay live on This Morning in 2014.
4 of 13James 'Arg' Argent, 2012
Gemma's on/off relationship with TOWIE co-star James 'Arg' Argent is thought to have began back in 2012, just months after he split up with long-term girlfriend Lydia Bright. They were pictured here in London in 2012.
5 of 13Summer 2012
Sadly, Gemma caught wind that Arg had been bad-mouthing her weight behind her back, and confronted him in Marbella in the summer of 2012, "You've been going around discussing what happened between us. Well let me tell you something now, you don't ever disrespect a girl like that again. Take a good look at this, you ain't ever gonna get this candy!"
6 of 13Alexander Moss, 2014
Gemma dated Alexander Moss in May 2014, but he reportedly assaulted her in her home and handed himself into the police just days before she flew out to Australia to star in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here.
7 of 13Sebastian Marc Graham, 2015
Gemma was set up with Sebastian Marc Graham by her friend Jake Hall whilst on holiday in Marbella, but things seemed to fizzle out quite quickly.
8 of 13Stephen Mortimer, 2015
Gem dated jailbird Stephen Mortimer in 2015, but split in October 2016 shortly before he was jailed for stealing jewellery in a home raid, having previously spent two years inside for GBH.
9 of 13Summer 2016
Although Arg got back together with Lydia Bright, they split up yet again in summer 2016 - but slept with both her and Gemma on the same day, leaving the GC understandably livid.
10 of 13JJ Goodman, 2016
Gemma met bartender JJ Goodman at the Cannes Lions festival in July 2016 and the pair hit it off, with Gem revealing that she thought he could even be The One, "He's a proper gentleman. Any man who can take treat me like a princess and then share a Club Sandwich with me is definitely "The One" in my books." However, nothing seemed to come of it.
11 of 13December 2017
At Arg's 30th birthday party, he stood up and practically declared his love for Gemma, telling the congregation, "Gemma you're so lovely to me, you're always there whenever I need you. You treat me with such respect, you're kind to me and you make me laugh so much." They then had a lovely kiss.
12 of 13Laurence Hearn, January 2018
Although things seemed to be going well for the pair, fans were left confused when the GC met Laurence whilst taking part in the January 2018 series of Celebs Go Dating, and it seemed to be successful for her as she got on well with car expert Laurence Hearn, but things fizzled out in March when she dumped him LIVE on Loose Women, and she got back with Arg.
13 of 13James Argent, April 2018
Arg officially asked Gemma to be his girlfriend on TOWIE in April 2018, and the pair don't seem to have looked back since! He's been supporting her during her stint on Dancing On Ice and they've even been talking about having children together.HOWEVER - in March 2019, Arg and Gem briefly split after Arg was found to have sent Gemma some VILE texts. Reports suggested that Gemma 'kicked Arg out of the house' after he shared a video of her snoring, before things escalated and he reportedly told her she has 'more rolls than Greggs'.There were also reports that when Gemma asked Arg to leave her home, the TOWIE star added, 'You fat horrible lump. Nasty mean woman. Who the f--- do you think you are? You've got more rolls than Greggs.' [sic]Thankfully, they're back on track as of March 2019!
In May, Arg revealed the extent of his addictions, which resulted in him spending ten weeks at a Thai rehab facility, and said his main incentive for staying sober was settling down and having kids with Gemma. But, according to insiders, a recent trip to Spain had made him reconsider, and he told Gemma that he wanted to “be in an open relationship”.
Then came their heated text exchange (which came a year after Arg called Gem a “fat joke”). It began after he sent her a screen-grab of some flight details, before she replied, “I’m not booking it. You said you would be a gentleman!” Arg then lashed out, “YOU FAT F**K. I’VE JUST LOST ANOTHER 2000.”
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In another screengrab, Gemma told Arg, “What man pays for another woman!!!” before adding, “And the woman that saved your life has to pay for herself!!!” He then responded, “You are supposed to be treating me you hippo” – prompting her to hit back, “We’re over”.
Arg also reportedly lashed out after Gemma refused to pay for cosmetic surgery to have his ears pinned back. After sharing his texts, Gem told followers, “I am so upset and devastated… I need some time off the gram to heal,” before unfollowing Arg on social media.
“Gemma is completely shocked and has been left absolutely heartbroken,” a source revealed. “[She] decided to end their relationship entirely – she feels like she had no choice but to walk away.”
For more information about emotional abuse, visit Womensaid.org.uk