Ferne McCann's close friendship with Sam Faiers is in tatters after Ferne was accused of branding her former TOWIE co-star a 'fat c***' in a leaked recording, MailOnline can reveal.
In the shocking audio Ferne, 32, also appears to body shame Sam, 31, describing her thighs as 'so big.'
The voice message was allegedly sent by Ferne on WhatsApp to a friend in June, just a month after Sam had given birth to her third baby, Edward.
am's mum Suzie was so appalled by the message that she posted it on her Instagram page, which is accessible to her 270,000 followers this morning.
Suzie wrote: 'So, after a few days of hurt and upset I can no longer sit back and say nothing.
'The vile voice note has been circulating social media, and now press articles are calling it a 'feud', which it is not.
'This has come as a complete shock to myself and my family. Ferne has always been a very close family friend to all of us for over the past 20 years.
'It appears this voice note was sent just weeks after Samantha gave birth back in May. Since this voice note has surfaced more has been sent – very upsetting nasty things.
'We are as shocked as you are! Nobody should ever speak about their friends like this ever!
'My girls are my absolute everything and I'll do anything to protect them. I don't have anything else to say on the matter.'
A source told MailOnline: 'Naturally Sam is incredibly hurt and upset by these comments, especially from someone she considered to be a good friend, she's at a loss as to why Ferne has decided to speak out about her in such a derogatory way.'
Sam unfollowed and blocked Ferne on Instagram after hearing the message, which in full said: 'Sam Faiers is a fat c***, her thighs are so big, and I looked really skinny today and um yeah.'
Reality TV stars Ferne and Sam have been close friends and in each other's lives for more than two decades.
In their TOWIE heyday the pair would party at Essex haunt Sugar Hut and support each other through their dramatic storylines, including when Sam split from on-off boyfriend Joey Essex.
They have celebrated milestone birthdays together, the arrivals of their children, and Ferne is also a close friend of Sam's sister Billie, 32, attending her hen do, wedding, and baby showers.
Ferne shared an emotional tribute to Sam on her 30th birthday in 2021, declaring her love for her former co-star on Instagram.
She said: 'Wow it's been emotional looking back at all of these pictures. So many laughs, parties, and special memories made. You my darling have given me so many memories that I will cherish forever.'
Ferne even sang at Billie's 2019 wedding in the Maldives, with the reality star saying the surprise performance from her best friend was a moment she will never forget.
Sam and Ferne's relationship has been blighted in the past amid various fallouts – but they have always managed to make amends.
They feuded over their rival TV shows after Ferne landed First Time Mum following the success of Sam's ITVBe series The Mummy Dairies.
In 2018, Sam confirmed the pair had put their differences aside, saying: 'To be honest over the last couple of years Ferne and I hadn't seen eye to eye over on a number of things and sometimes as friends you do just drift apart.
'I'm in Hertfordshire with my family and she's doing her thing with her family. There was never a big argument, we just drifted apart but it was nice actually because at my sister's bridal shower it was fine, and we were catching up on the babies and that's it really.'
Sam, who gave birth to son Edward in May, is also a mum to Paul, six, and Rosie, four, who she shares with her long-term partner, Paul Knightley.
Ferne is a mum to four-year-old Sunday from her relationship with Arthur Collins, who's currently serving a 20-year prison sentence after being found guilty of an acid attack in 2017.
In the same year, it was reported that Sam advised Ferne to end her romance with Arthur and their friendship suffered as a result of his imprisonment.
She got engaged to fiancé Lorri Haines in July after a whirlwind seven-month romance, telling her followers on Instagram: 'So happily ever afters do exist.'
Ferne's representatives refused to comment when approached by MailOnline, but a source close to Ferne suggested that the partial recording, which was publicly released may have been edited or taken out of context.
Sam joined the cast of TOWIE as an original in 2010 while Ferne became a show regular three years later.
Ferne is currently starring on C4 series Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.
During Sunday night's episode she confessed to being known as a 'b****' during her time on TOWIE – but insisted she was different away from the cameras.
She said: 'I think on TOWIE I was probably seen as the b**** but in real life that character is not aligned with who I am.
'I don't like confrontation. I find it very difficult.'
