The internet has erupted with accusations that Zara McDermott is cheating on Louis Tomlinson after a seemingly innocent interaction with Joey Essex. The 29-year-old reality star was seen hugging her Cooking with the Stars co-star, 35, through a large window after wrapping filming on Saturday night.
The Incident
The Towie icon gave Zara a brief kiss on the cheek as she wrapped her arm around him. He then left Versa Studios and got into his waiting car. However, due to Zara's past history of infidelity, many of Louis' fans assumed the worst.
Backlash and Denials
After the photos surfaced, a source confirmed to The Sun that there is 'nothing romantic' going on between the two. 'Zara and Joey grew close during filming and have become good friends. They got on really well but it’s all very innocent. There’s nothing romantic there between them,' the insider shared.
Zara has been with Louis, 34, since March 2025, months after she ended her five-year relationship with Sam Thompson. Their busy schedules reportedly made it difficult to take the next step, and things fizzled out.
Past Cheating Scandal
In September 2019, Zara was exposed for cheating on Sam with music executive Brahim Fourad while on The X Factor: Celebrity. The fallout played out on Made in Chelsea, with Zara promising to win Sam's trust back. He eventually took her back.
Fans online immediately accused Zara of cheating again. One user wrote on X: 'Good morning to Zara and her new boyfriend?' Another fan said: 'I want to clown so bad!!!!! Please let it be her.' Several called her a 'serial cheater.'
One blurry photo, which appeared to show Zara and Joey kissing on the lips, was quickly debunked as a doctored image from an old picture of Joey with another girl.
'Kissing goodbye on the cheek is cheating now?' asked one user, while another added: 'Cheating and it was just a kiss on the cheek, which in a lot of places is just a greeting or a goodbye.'
'So Larries are celebrating and calling Zara a cheater because a random man hugged and kissed her on the cheek?' wrote another. Larries are a vocal subset of Louis' fandom who believe he is secretly gay and the romance is a cover-up.
Source Defends Zara
The Sun's source added: 'What happened on Celebrity X Factor was seven years ago when Zara was in her very early 20s. She’s a different person now and doesn’t deserve to have this constantly dragged back up. She’s head over heels in love with Louis and they’re totally committed to each other.'
While fans brought up her cheating on Sam, it appears he is over any hurt. Sam recently addressed his ex's romance with Louis on Hits Radio when a fan asked about playing One Direction's 'Steal My Girl.' He replied: 'I still listen to it on the tube. I don’t actually feel weird about it because I feel quite happy as long as everyone else is happy. I think everyone has found their person and I think that’s really, really nice.' He added that he has met Louis and thinks he is 'a really nice dude.'
Metro has reached out to Zara's team for comment.
