ALREADY feeling deeply vulnerable after leaving her daughter to film abroad, Lauren Goodger’s recent trip to Albania quickly turned into a holiday from hell.
While drama is a given on The Only Way Is Essex, 39-year-old Lauren never expected to be at the centre of such a big fall-out, and she was devastated to find herself unexpectedly caught in the crossfire after a huge bust-up with another co-star.
Lauren Goodger falls out with her close friend Junaid on Towie Credit: ITV
Tensions rose after Junaid proposed to Joe during the trip Credit: TikTok/@junaidahmedx
The falling out was with her best friend Junaid Ahmed, causing a devastating rift which left her fearing the worst for their friendship.
Speaking exclusively to The Jattvibe, Lauren reveals what really went on during filming, and explains: “Me and Junaid fell out…Junaid’s under a lot of pressure, but good pressure – he got engaged. I was there supporting them 100 per cent.
“I just felt like he wasn’t really there for me, as a friend, nowhere to be seen. He was on one, a bit… being a diva.
“I’ve been Joe and Junaid’s number one supporter from day one and had their backs – literally against all the rest of the cast, who don’t particularly like them, I’ve always stuck up for them.
“I don’t come for the drama, but I’m involved. Drama, unfortunately – it happens in Essex! We are all genuine friends. There’s fallouts, there’s makeups, there’s tears.”
Junaid proposed to Joe on camera while they were away with the cast. They have been dating for two years, but for many their romance is as contentious as ever.
Joe Blackman used to be in a relationship with fan favourite Harry Derbridge and shortly after they broke up, Joe started dating Junaid.
It was incredibly messy and divided their friends. While most people sided with Harry, it was Lauren who stuck by Junaid.
But it was during filming in Albania that their friendship imploded.
Lauren says Junaid became upset when Harry walked away from the group setting – and when she tried to reassure him, she says he “snapped”.
Taking the brunt of his outbursts left Lauren heartbroken. The tension spiraled to the point where even Joe was in tears, leaving Lauren fearing their years-long connection was fractured beyond repair.
She continued: “I couldn’t be around it. I was really upset. I didn’t know where it was going to go – I left it on… the relationship is done.
“Joe was crying… I came back to the show with him, and we’ve been really tight for a really long time and we’ve got each other’s backs.
“So, I think, as a very close person to him… I took the brunt of it…
“It was terrible. Really terrible. And I didn’t really know where we were going to be. I didn’t know if I was ever going to be alright with him again, because I was in such a vulnerable situation.
“I don’t like going away, let alone without my daughter. It was a big step for me. It was such a huge thing, and I just felt like I didn’t need to be shouted at and dug out when I’m there trying to make it better.”
The drama reached a climax back home when a scheduling clash forced Lauren to balance two major events on the same day: Amy’s Prosecco party celebrating her marriage to Billy, and Junaid’s engagement party. Determined not to let anyone down, Lauren took on both.
Refusing to let the past hostility ruin the occasion, Lauren made a grand entrance at Junaid’s celebration. Dressed “to the nines like I was going to the Oscars” with her daughter Larose by her side, Lauren tried again to get through to Junaid.
Lauren and Junaid have managed to put their issues behind them
Junaid got upset after Harry Derbridge’s reaction to his engagement Credit: Instagram/@towie
She explained: “All the people there that loved him, there was no drama, no bad vibes.
“That’s what I was trying to explain to him in Albania, where we fell out, ’cause he was so upset that Harry walked out, and I was trying to say to him: ‘It doesn’t matter who has left. It matters who’s here,’ and then he snaps at me.
“That’s why we fell out, and then, obviously, when the engagement party came, he realised what I said was true.
“I said, ‘This is exactly what I was trying to say to you. Look, we’re all here, we love you and support you.’”
Seeing that she had been in his corner all along, the pair officially cleared the air.
Lauren was struggling to be away without her daughter, Larose
Lauren returned to Towie two years ago and is slowly finding her feet again Credit: Getty
While Lauren described the rift as “terrible” to go through, the best friends have put the past behind them and are once again tight.
She said: “We are really close, and I love Junaid a lot, and I love Joe, I do. I really do. And my daughter loves them.”
Despite what happened, Lauren is looking forward to watching it all unfold.
“It works out, but I can’t wait to see it all, ’cause I’m very heavily involved this series,” she added.
“More than I have been, and I think we will see that growing, each series, basically. I’m just filming more and it’s really helped my confidence as well. It’s brought me back.”
Towie launched Jattvibeday 2nd August at 9pm on ITV2 & ITVX and airs Jattvibedays and Mondays every week on ITV2 & ITVX
