Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@auntiecath17
Topics: Celebrity, Coronation Street, UK News
Niamh Spence
Topics: Celebrity, Coronation Street, UK News
Former Corrie actor Catherine Tyldesley has cancelled her 40th birthday celebrations following the 'cakegate' controversy.
The soap actress initially addressed the claims in a video on her Instagram as she responded to allegations from a bakery that a PR company she was working with was asking for free cakes in exchange for 'exposure'.
The mum-of-two Cath had planned a spectacular bash for her milestone birthday, but has since chosen to cancel the big plans and have a more lowkey event instead.
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The actor and Strictly Come Dancing star was due to celebrate her 40th next month in September, but has since opted for a quieter celebration instead after following intense social media backlash.
While she hasn't said much else on the scandal apart from one video, Catherine shared a cryptic meme to her Instagram stories that could indicate she's feeling worn out from the 'cakegate' scandal.
The former ITV actor shared a picture of a worse-for-wear Barbie doll with with the caption: "Me trying to work, go to the gym, stay hydrated, not be broke, maintain a social life, and get 8 hours of sleep every night."
Writing across it to add her own stamp, Catherine summed it up for all of us with one word: "Yup".
While she addressed the scandal in July, the star has otherwise remained pretty quiet since the drama unfolded.
The bakery, Three Little Birds in West Keighley, shared screenshots of an email from a PR company acting on behalf of a celebrity and promising 'exposure' and promotion via social media and a magazine spread in exchange for a birthday cake and treats for a 40th birthday.
The requests the email was asking for were said to cost the bakery £675.
While the screenshots and emails never named the celebrity requesting the cakes, the Daily Mail later revealed it was Catherine Tyldesley.
Speaking to the Mail Online after the news broke, an inside source said: "Cath was blindsided by Cakegate and found the whole thing very upsetting so she's decided on a quieter celebration.
"She doesn't blame NVRLND, but the whole situation left a sour taste so she felt it best to call it off.
"NVRLND did not tell [bakery owner Rebecca Severs] whose birthday celebration the request was for, simply saying it was a 'well-known celebrity'."
After the scandal broke, Catherine responded to the claims in her own video which she captioned: "Cakegate – The Truth" as she told her 646,000 followers: "Cakegate, what? So, I had no idea those emails were being sent."
She explained: "Don't really know what to say. I mean I hope the cake lady got the exposure she was craving, whilst I've got journalists knocking on my front door while my kids are playing in the front room, dead nice that babes. Thanks for coming."