ANDY Carroll and his reality TV star Wag Billi Mucklow have revealed they are divorcing, after a turbulent two year marriage.
In a statement, the ex-England, Newcastle and Liverpool striker said: “Billi and I have privately separated earlier this year and we are under way with our divorce proceedings.
However, the nuptials nearly never happened after Carroll’s boozy stag do[/caption]
“It has been a hard few months for our family and we continue to move forward amicably for our children.”
The pair share three kids, having been together for 11 years.
A source told us: “Andy and Billi care about each other a lot and have made some great memories together, but decided it was best for the family if they went their separate ways having grown apart.
“They’re still focusing on the kids and being the best parents they can be and being respectful of each other.
“They want the process to be straightforward for everyone involved. Andy has been throwing himself into his football.”
Their relationship has been fraught with issues. SunSport looks at where it all went wrong.
The stag do scandal
In 2014, Andy and Billi were seemingly headed for eternal happiness.
They were very much in love, having got engaged just a year after meeting each other in a whirlwind romance.
Eight years later, the two finally walked down the aisle at luxurious Four Seasons Hotel in Hampshire.
But, it was a wedding that nearly never happened.
Prior to their special occasion, Carroll went on his now infamous stag do with pals.
Pictures surfaced of the towering forward passed out in bed with two women in Dubai.
One of the girls, Taylor Jane Wilkey was also seen posing in a bathroom wearing the footballer’s personalised dressing gown
When the photos circulated on social media, Billi reacted as you would imagine.
She took off her £200,000 engagement ring and left their Essex home.
It seemed like they would never exchange nuptials.
A reprieve
However, bar manager Taylor expressed her regret at the situation.
She also insisted that nothing sexual happened.
Taylor told The Sun: “It was all just a bit of entirely innocent fun.
“It was an afterparty. We all went back to his hotel. There was me, Andy and my female friend.
“I didn’t sleep with him, it wasn’t like that, there was three of us in the room.
“It was a full day and night of drinking, we’d been at Cove Beach since 12, it was a really boozy day. Andy was steaming, we were all drunk.”
She added: “We went back to Andy’s hotel suite and we played some music and he got into bed and passed out.
“I was there with my friend until the early hours and took the photo as a joke.
“My mates back home were goading me for the lowdown so I took that picture for a laugh and sent it to them.
Carroll and Billi wed at the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel in Hampshire[/caption]
Carroll left England and began a career at Amiens in France[/caption]
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“Nothing sexual happened. It was just a bit of banter.”
After Billi requested Carroll show her all the pictures from the boozy stag do in clear-the-air talks, the wedding was back on.
However, it was clearly a moment that broke trust between the pair.
A fresh start
In August, 2023, Carroll left Reading after triggering a release clause in his contract.
He joined French second division club Amiens – with his career in its twilight years.
A year later, he would continue his adventure across the channel and sign for Bordeaux, where he currently plays.
For Carroll, it encouraged a quieter life, away from the hustle and bustle of cities like Newcastle and London, where the nightlife may have proved a temptation.
However, rather tellingly, he was alone.
Billi made the decision to stay in their Essex home, as Carroll continued his career in France – one that hasn’t been profitable given Bordeaux’s financial struggle and fall from grace.
Andy, who is said to be on £750-per-week, revealed to RMC Sport: “To be honest, it’s even costing me money to come and play for Bordeaux but I’m playing football and I am simply happy to be playing football.
Carroll left his family behind to pursue his career in France[/caption]
“I want to be a part of this club’s history and to be frank, it wasn’t a question of money. In my career, it’s never been a question of money.”
Carroll has since reportedly moved on from Billi – and is dating Harry Styles’ hairstylist Lou Teasdale.
With divorce costing a pretty penny, expect Carroll to have dig deep into his savings to fund his divorce.
