‘It just hurt…’: Perrie Edwards breaks down in tears as she relives her painful split from Zayn Malik — and reveals how the pressure of Little Mix fame left her hospitalised after suffering terrifying panic attacks… - suong

Posted November 3, 2025

PERRIE Edwards has opened up about her tough public split from Zayn Malik – and how she ended up in hospital when the pressure of Little Mix became too much.

The singer found fame in Little Mix alongside Jesy Nelson, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jade Thirlwell back in 2011, with the group forming and later winning X Factor.

But as the band grew, so did public attention on the band, which was made worse by the rise in popularity of social media.

Perrie faced brutal trolling online, which began to take a toll on her mental health, which only got worse dating One Direction star Zayn Malik in 2013,

Speaking about her experience on new BBC documentary series Girlbands Forever, Perrie opened up about the time period and said: “Social media was dark, especially back in the day. It used to really hurt.

“We all felt like that. Me and the girls got a lot of stick.”

Zayn and Perrie would later get engaged, dividing people online who would share their thoughts, but they would call it quits and split in 2015.

Again, fans swarmed Twitter to share their thoughts on the relationship, which proved tough for Perrie.

“You’re hurting enough as it is, let alone everyone having an opinion about you,” she told the cameras.

“Everyone wants to know your business and feels like they have ownership in that, you can’t escape it so you may as well just sing about it.”

Little Mix later released Shout Out To My Ex – their biggest hit to date at the time – on the back of Perrie’s break-up, with the lyrics blatantly alluding to what went on.

While Perrie remembers it as a “pivotal moment for the band”, she maintains it was “hard to deal with publicly” despite putting on a brave face.

“It just hurt and I went through a lot behind the scenes. It has a huge impact on your mental health,” she said.

Things would ultimately climax in 2017 while, when performing in Las Vegas with the band, things got too much for her and she started having panic attacks.

“I didn’t know what was happening at the time, I didn’t know what anxiety was. I ended up in hospital,” she explained before breaking down in tears.

“I didn’t want to let the girls down, I didn’t want to upset them. They had to do it without me and I hated it and really resented myself for it.”

“When you’re in a group dynamic, even though you’re going through stuff individually you can’t really be selfish,” she added. “So I tried to put on a brave face.”

Little Mix would ultimately stick together until 2022, two years after Jesy Nelson left the band in December 2020 citing her own mental health.

The girls remain close, with Perrie, Jade and Leigh-Anne all pursuing successful solo careers and starting families. Perrie’s self-titled album was released in September.

Perrie is now engaged to footballer Alex Oxlaide-Chamberlain and has three-year-old son, Axel.

In September, she announced she was expecting their second child, and has since been seen dancing with Leigh-Anne at Jade’s concert with her baby bump on display.

Towie’s Elliott Wright reveals real reason he’s selling £6.5m restaurant after devastating arson atta ngocc

TOWIE alum Elliott Wright has revealed the real reason he’s selling up his £6.5million Spanish restaurant following a devastating arson attack.

Last week, we reported how the reality TV star-turned-businessman, 45, was quitting life in the Cosa del Sol to return home.

Towie’s Elliott Wright has revealed the real reason he’s selling his £6.5million restaurantCredit: Instagram

He is the proud owner of Olivia’s La Cala in MarbellaCredit: Instagram

Yet the dad of five is taking the eatery to auction after his two eldest kids didn’t want to take it overCredit: Instagram

Elliott, 45, told how he wanted to be closest to his eldest kidsCredit: Instagram

He is putting his establishment – Olivia’s La Cala in Marbella – on the market to be near his older children Elliott Jr, 18, and Olivia, 16.

We previously told how Elliott is taking the establishment to auction, with bids starting at €7.5million (£6.5million).

The sale will include the freehold beachfront property, the trading business, and the Olivia’s La Cala brand and trademark.

Now h has told why he’s upping sticks despite a recent rebrand for the celeb-favourite eatery.

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“It was a lovely dream, but a pipe dream, and it wasn’t one that they wanted to do.

“There’s no sad feelings at all about it. I’m very content, and I’m going to be closer to my children. The most important thing for me is spending time with the kids.”

Towie Star Elliott Wright Announces Fifth Baby

FAMILY JOY

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Elliott previously told how his two children are soon to be based in London, and that his dreams of them taking the reins would not be happening.

He is also parent to Billy, aged six, John, aged two and daughter Dolly, who is just three months.

He added: “Olivia’s is a party restaurant. It’s a fun place to be. You can’t sit there and ponder on what’s going on in the past.

“You do have bad times, but the good times outweigh the bad. And with Olivia’s, it massively outweighs it.

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Their new show title is currently unconfirmed.

The pair, who first met and found love on TOWIE back in 2014, finally say ‘I Do’ in a three part special produced by Objective Entertainment.

The show will follow on from the success of their Baby Steps series.

“None of that has really played a part in it. Whatever business you’re going to go into, you’re gonna go through it.

“It’s part and parcel of being a business owner.”

RESTAURANT HISTORY

Named after his daughter, the fine establishment was known for hosting wild nights out for a plethora of stars including The Only Way is Essex favourites Ferne McCann and Elliott’s cousins Mark and Jess Wright.

Elliott’s project evolved into a destination restaurant that attracted celebrities, tourists, and expats with its lively atmosphere.

But the restaurant has also gone through its fair share of troubles, with the establishment attacked by vandals shortly after a bouncer was killed there two years ago.

Elliott, who was a part of The Only Way is Essex from 2010 to 2017, said in a previous video: “Hi everybody, I just wanna do a short reel just to explain that what’s in the news today is true.

“I am selling my beautiful restaurant Olivia’s. It’s been an amazing 10 years.

“I’ve loved every minute of it.