Sam Thompson and Zara McDermott have officially ended their five-year relationship, with news of their split emerging this week.
The breakup follows a tumultuous relationship that hit a major roadblock five years ago when Zara became involved in a cheating scandal. She had an affair with music executive Brahim Fouradi while competing on The X Factor, which led to a brief breakup with Sam. Their relationship, which had been steady for 16 months before the affair, was later documented in the next season of Made In Chelsea after they reconciled.
Brahim Fouradi, a well-known figure in the music industry, was an A&R director for Simon Cowell’s Syco Entertainment and has worked on various talent shows like The X Factor. He has since moved to Holland, where he continues to work. Despite their brief split, Sam and Zara managed to rebuild their relationship. However, the lingering effects of the affair remained, especially within Sam’s family. His sister, Louise, was particularly vocal about her disapproval of Zara and questioned why Sam took her back, though she eventually agreed to give Zara a second chance.
Despite their efforts to make it work, the couple’s relationship did not stand the test of time. A source close to the couple shared to MailOnline that their bond never fully recovered from the infidelity, and they had grown apart. “It just felt like they were delaying the inevitable,” the friend explained. Although Zara publicly apologized for her actions in 2022, taking full responsibility for the affair, Sam’s family never fully accepted her back, which seemed to put strain on their relationship.
Zara’s public apology included a heartfelt message to Sam, where she acknowledged her mistake and expressed deep remorse for the pain she caused him. Sam, in turn, reflected on the importance of forgiveness, stating that he believed it was essential to move forward and heal from past mistakes.
Throughout their on-and-off relationship, both Sam and Zara experienced significant career milestones. Sam won I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in 2023, while Zara made history as the first Love Island star to join Strictly Come Dancing, although she faced challenges after her partner was removed from the show. Despite the personal struggles, their professional success seemed to strengthen their connection.
However, their relationship ended after spending separate holidays during Christmas and New Year. Sam celebrated with friends at a party in London, while Zara spent the holiday at home. A source close to them confirmed to MailOnline that the breakup wasn’t due to any scandal, but simply the result of a difficult year where both focused on their individual careers.
As Sam and Zara move forward separately, they remain committed to their respective professional paths in 2025, each focusing on their own careers after parting ways.
