Kerry Katona has said Kieran Hyler’s charge for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl is to blame for Katie Price’s weight loss.
Hyler arrived at Crawley Magistrates’ Court this week to face allegations of three counts of rape and one count of sexual assault against a child.
Last month, police confirmed they had charged the 38-year-old, who is best known for being married to the former glamour model and TV personality, 47.
The mum-of-five previously appeared to address the allegations while on stage at the Clapham Grand in London with Katona.
While discussing her traumatic experiences with men in her life, she seemed to reference her ex-husband.
‘What I’ve gone through, and – how do I word it – current news, I had a real reason to be wary of things because it’s closer to home than you realise. I can’t say anymore on it, but I’m sure you know what I’m getting to,’ she said on stage.
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Katona, 45, is close friends with Price, having met in the I’m A Celebrity jungle in 2004 – where Price also infamously met her ex Peter Andre.
Off the back of their UK theatre tour, she spoke about Price’s altered frame, after visibly shedding weight over the past few weeks.
Katona told the Daily Mail: ‘Have you read the headlines about her ex-husband? You’d lose weight, but Kate is not fragile. She’s the strongest woman I know.
‘She’s also more sober, more together, than anyone gives her credit for. And she will get her empire back. I am in awe of her.’
Hayler was granted bail on the condition that he does not contact the alleged victim and is due to appear at Lewes Crown Court for a plea hearing on December 17.
The alleged offences are said to have taken place at an address in West Sussex between June and October 2016, during which time he was still married to Price, 47.
Hayler was known to be living at Katie Price’s home – known as Mucky Mansion due to its dilapidated condition – in West Sussex around this time.
Hayler’s lawyers told the Daily Mail that he ‘strongly denies the allegations made against him in their entirety’.
Hayler, a personal trainer and former stripper, was married to Price from 2013 until they split in 2018. The pair share two children together.
Metro contacted Katie Price’s representative, who declined to comment.
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