MAFS UK's Peggy Lawrence calls for 'public apology' from ex Georges Berthonneau after he branded her a 'calculated manipulator': 'It's character defamation'
Married at First Sight UK's Peggy Rose Lawrence has called for a 'public apology' from her ex Georges Berthonneau after he branded her a 'calculated manipulator.'
The couple went through a turbulent journey on the E4 show, nearly splitting several times before deciding to stay together at the final commitment ceremony but announced they had split for good on Valentine's Day.
When the news broke Georges claimed he was blindsided by the breakup announcement calling her a 'gas lighter and narcissist' as he struggled with his mental health.
Peggy has now responded, saying that she is done with the 'emotional abuse and mind games' adding that Georges words were 'character defamation.'
Speaking to FUBAR Radio hosts on Bobby Norris and Ellen Coughlan on Wednesday evening, she said: 'It's really upsetting because I didn't want it to get like this. I wanted it amicable and I said to George, as soon as he broke up with me, "can we announce it together amicably on Instagram? I don't want to go to the press."
![Married at First Sight UK's Peggy Rose Lawrence has called for a 'public apology' from her ex Georges Berthonneau after he branded her a 'calculated manipulator'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/29/16/81879809-13141707-Married_at_First_Sight_UK_s_Peggy_Rose_Lawrence_has_called_for_a-m-23_1709224973070.jpg)
Married at First Sight UK's Peggy Rose Lawrence has called for a 'public apology' from her ex Georges Berthonneau after he branded her a 'calculated manipulator'
![The couple went through a turbulent journey on the E4 show, nearly splitting several times before deciding to stay together but announced they had split for good on Valentine's Day](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/29/16/81879797-13141707-The_couple_went_through_a_turbulent_journey_on_the_E4_show_nearl-a-32_1709225549258.jpg)
The couple went through a turbulent journey on the E4 show, nearly splitting several times before deciding to stay together but announced they had split for good on Valentine's Day
Peggy continued: 'I was willing to protect him and not mention the dirt or anything like that. I wanted to protect Georges, but on Valentine's, I just thought, why should I protect a liar?'
She continued: 'I tried to do my statement on Instagram amicably still, and then he came out with the article the next day, straight on my case.
'He called me a gas lighter and a narcissist. How you can have the audacity to do that when I’ve protected you for so long? It's character defamation.
'And if I was any of those things, why does Georges still want me back? Why was he sending me Valentine's stuff? It didn't make sense. He was even trying to talk to me after he wrote that article the same day.'
'That evening I blocked him. And I don't want to talk to him again. Why would I? I've had enough with the emotional abuse and the mind games and I don't want to speak to him ever again.
'Unless I have a public apology, I will not be speaking to George ever again.'
MailOnline has contacted Georges representative for further comment.
In a previous interview with MailOnline Georges also alleged that his ex-wife 'refused to pay for anything' throughout their relationship, while he spent thousands of pounds on restaurant dinners and a romantic trip to Paris for her 33rd birthday.
Addressing his claims, Peggy told FUBAR: 'The majority of the hotels that we get are gifted. A lot of them are free if you post on your Instagram. Same as the meals in the restaurants. I work hard. I don't need anybody else's money.'
![When the news broke Georges claimed he was blindsided by the breakup announcement calling her a 'gas lighter and narcissist' as he struggled with his mental health](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/29/16/81299093-13141707-Married_at_First_Sight_UK_star_Georges_has_branded_his_ex_wife_P-a-33_1709225573243.jpg)
When the news broke Georges claimed he was blindsided by the breakup announcement calling her a 'gas lighter and narcissist' as he struggled with his mental health
![Peggy has now responded, saying that she is done with the 'emotional abuse and mind games' adding that Georges words were 'character defamation'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/29/16/81299101-13141707-Georges_recently_wined_and_dined_Peggy_as_the_couple_celebrated_-a-34_1709225599865.jpg)
Peggy has now responded, saying that she is done with the 'emotional abuse and mind games' adding that Georges words were 'character defamation'
![Speaking to FUBAR Radio, she said: 'Unless I have a public apology, I will not be speaking to George ever again'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/29/16/81879803-13141707-image-a-30_1709225514951.jpg)
Speaking to FUBAR Radio, she said: 'Unless I have a public apology, I will not be speaking to George ever again'
She added: 'I’ve never have been that type of girl. I’ve never had a Chelsea rich boy like he’s accused me of having. We got to a point where we couldn't go out for dinner at a restaurant unless I paid because he didn't have the money to.'
The day after the news of their split broke, Georges branded his ex-wife Peggy Lawrence a 'calculated manipulator' after she blindsided him with a breakup announcement on Valentine's Day.
The E4 contestant told MailOnline the couple, who mutually decided to part ways in January, agreed to issue a joint statement to inform fans they had ended their relationship.
But he claims that without his prior knowledge, Peggy told her following she was single in a move Georges says was purposely done to hurt him even after he had sent a bouquet of roses, balloons and a card to let his ex know he still cares on Valentine's.
Georges claimed Peggy only visited his apartment on three occasions, they only had sex six times, and his TV wife has been tapped up by TOWIE – but can only join if she's single.
Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, he explained: 'We said we were going to do it together. The next thing I know she's putting out a statement on Valentine's Day, on purpose. It's obvious she has done that on purpose. It is calculated.
'I sent her flowers, a card and balloons for Valentine's... I checked my letterbox yesterday and I got nothing.'
In the aftermath of the show, Georges struggled with his mental health, explaining the changes to his lifestyle and financial stress had taken a toll on his happiness.
He confided in wife Peggy about his struggles but ultimately the pair decided to end their marriage so Georges could focus on getting better.
![Peggy told her following that it has taken her 'weeks' to come to terms with their split but she wanted to be honest with her fans on Valentine¿s Day](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/29/16/81306799-13141707-Peggy_told_her_following_that_it_has_taken_her_weeks_to_come_to_-a-35_1709225878606.jpg)
Peggy told her following that it has taken her 'weeks' to come to terms with their split but she wanted to be honest with her fans on Valentine’s Day
![The day after the news broke, Georges branded his ex-wife Peggy Lawrence a 'calculated manipulator' after she blindsided him with a breakup announcement on Valentine's Day](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/29/16/81299095-13141707-The_former_rugby_player_feels_he_failed_to_satisfy_Peggy_s_desir-a-36_1709225951304.jpg)
The day after the news broke, Georges branded his ex-wife Peggy Lawrence a 'calculated manipulator' after she blindsided him with a breakup announcement on Valentine's Day
He said: 'Mentally, I have been struggling a lot recently. When I say a lot, I mean more than I have ever struggled before in my life and that's down to lack of routine, income, clients... all round struggling with making ends meet and I have been burning through my savings.
'Peggy realised that something wasn't right and when we got back from Paris, we spoke on January 30, and she asked whether everything was okay with us. I have never been so confused in my life, I wasn't sure if it was our relationship, me or just life, I couldn't put my finger on it.
'I sent her such a long message I was weeping with tears, and I don't usually do that... I knew we had broken up because of how the conversation went.
'No one ended anything, we didn't say, this is over, just the way the conversation went on the phone, it seemed like it was over. I never wanted to dump her. I am such an optimist in life because until it's over, I never think it is. I told her, I don't want this to end, I just needed some time and space because I'm not very well mentally and I'm not happy.'
Georges says the beginning of their downfall was Peggy refused to visit him at his Farnham apartment so the couple would only see each other when he stayed at her parent's house in Kent, or he paid for a hotel.
He said: 'I never saw her. We came back from Paris for her birthday, and I didn't see her for two weeks. She has only been to my place three times since the end of the show in May. I have to go to hers or we have to get a hotel. She never, ever came to mine.
'I was in a relationship with somebody that didn't actually want to spend time with me. I always asked her "When do you want to see me?" She never asked me when I was free or said at the last minute, "I'm free all evening, let's do something."
'I'm now not looking at this relationship through rose tinted glasses. I see gas lighter, narcissist, I see some really bad things. How have I been blinded by this? I feel like I'm so much fun and I have lost my spark.'
And now Georges fears Peggy, who appeared on dating show Take Me Out in 2012, could have wanted to end their relationship after she was approached to join TOWIE, only if she was single.
He said: 'TOWIE really wants her. She turned them down because she was in a relationship with me because they want her single... but I'm pretty sure she will be on their books now. She lives in Kent and hangs out with all of that lot.
'If goes on the show, I'll be over the moon for her. All I want is for her to be happy. If it's with me, then even better but if it's not with me... then fine.'
However, Peggy's representative told MailOnline that she 'devoted' herself to Georges and it was his decision to end their marriage.
![He claims that without his prior knowledge, Peggy told her following she was single in a move Georges says was purposely done to hurt him after he had sent a bouquet of roses](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/29/16/81299089-13141707-The_couple_married_after_meeting_at_the_altar_on_the_E4_show_but-a-37_1709225976741.jpg)
He claims that without his prior knowledge, Peggy told her following she was single in a move Georges says was purposely done to hurt him after he had sent a bouquet of roses
They alleged it was only following her 'persistent requests' to release a joint statement, with Georges refusal to corporate, that Peggy posted on Instagram.
Peggy also refutes Georges' claims that she is in talks to join TOWIE.
A spokesperson for Peggy said: 'After Georges expressed his desire to end his relationship with Peggy, she made every effort to handle the situation amicably and comply with his wishes.
'She requested that they issue a joint statement, and she has been persistently asking him to do so for the past two weeks, despite his continuous disregard for her request.
'It should be noted that she had no intentions of selling her story, and instead opted to release her own statement.'