Fans of The Only Way Is Essex were left blindsided earlier this month when a fan-favourite cast member announced they were quitting the show.
Chloe Brockett - who first appeared on the much-loved ITVBe series back in 2019 after ditching her job as a hairdresser - made the heartbreaking announcement on Instagram.
"I have made the decision to take a step back from TOWIE," she penned in an emotional statement. "It's been my life since I was 18 and I feel like it's best for me at this point in my life to step away."
Chloe continued: "I'm forever grateful to TOWIE for giving me the platform they have. Love you all."
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The news comes just weeks after the 23-year-old brunette bombshell was temporarily suspended from the show mid-series following an alleged altercation with another cast member.
Several news outlets reported at the time that an incident had taken place between Chloe and co-star Roman Hackett and that, as a consequence, she wouldn't be featuring in the rest of the series.
Apparently, a 'brutal attack' had seen her launch a glass tumbler at her co-star, leaving cast and crew members in shock.
This isn't the first time that Chloe has reportedly attempted to throw something at a castmate, after she launched a glass of booze over ex-boyfriend Harry Lee back in 2022, as you can see in this video...
However, Chloe was quick to shut down rumours that she'd be axed altogether.
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She told OK! Magazine: "I'm still a cast member, I've been on the show for four years, so yes, I will be there. I missed five days of filming, everyone made out like I was missing the rest of the series but I am in it, so don't worry."
Yet, within a matter of weeks, Chloe stepped down from her role on the show.
And this week, catching up with Tyla, she's finally lifted the lid on her shocking exit, inadvertently revealing that it isn't due to a clash of commitments.
The on-screen star - who'll be appearing on the upcoming series of Ex On The Beach tomorrow (19 March) - insisted of her exit: "I can’t delve into it too much, but, as I said on my Instagram story, it was the right time for me to leave.
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"It’s very easy to get stuck in a loop of doing the same thing repeatedly – especially when it’s my comfort zone – and I could feel myself slipping into that.
"I just knew it was time for me to go."
As mentioned, tomorrow night will see Chloe appear on MTV hit Ex On The Beach, where she'll confront former BFF Yaz Oukhellou, who called time on their friendship some years ago, after it emerged that Chloe had enjoyed a secret 'fling' with Yaz's on-off boyfriend James 'Lockie' Locke.
On the show, the trio will come face-to-face since the shock TOWIE scandal that ruined their friendship with tensions reaching such a height that Yaz sensationally WALKS from the villa.
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As mentioned, however - other than Ex On The Beach - it doesn't appear as though Chloe has anything in the pipeline, and no one is more aware of that than she.
"I’d love to do some more reality shows, although I haven’t got any lined up at the moment," she laughed.
"I’m not going to lie and say ‘Watch this space’, because there isn’t any."
Well, whatever you go on to do, Chloe, we're here for the drama!
Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@chloebrockett/ITVTopics: Celebrity, Towie, ITV, Reality TV, TV And Film