THE Real Housewives of Cheshire has been plunged into chaos after a shocking incident between cast members Rachel Lugo and Royston Bylthe.
Cops are now investigating the bust-up between , 51, and celebrity hairdresser Royston, 69, who today breaks his silence to tell of his mental anguish after Rachel “assaulted” him while cameras were rolling.
Royston Blythe has quit Real Housewives Of Cheshire after a bust up with Rachel Lugo
He alleges Rachel pushed him during a charity gala on May 1 and has reported her to the police Credit: rachellugo1/Instagram
Insiders said the latest drama to hit , which is one of the franchise’s most popular shows with over 100 million streams worldwide, could end the beloved series.
And in an exclusive interview about the incident Royston, who has been on RHOC for 11 years, admits he is heartbroken and hurt.
The incident played out at the Empowerment Gala in Cheshire on May 1, where Royston claims he was accosted by Rachel and pushed so hard by her that he was left winded. It is unclear what initially sparked the row.
says: “I was standing at the clubhouse bar talking to and when it happened.
“My Nick was opposite in a little group when suddenly Rachel aggressively pushed her way through his group from behind and went for me.
“It was all such a shock, she shoved me in the shoulder and pushed me back with such force, I lost my footing and felt winded.
“The party went quiet.
“It doesn’t sound much but I was totally humiliated.
“I might not have suffered a broken bone but mentally I am broken.”
The £150-a-ticket Empowerment Charity Gala was attended by a number of the RHOC cast – with cameras capturing the glamorous event at the Northenden Golf Club in Manchester which was put on to raise funds for charity.
In the aftermath of the incident, Royston – who counts and among his clients – said their stunned castmates and members of the public rushed over to check on him as the cameras rolled.
“I’m usually the showman used to the banter but they have gone too far this time,” Royston explains.
“It’s hard to explain but the look on ’s face was pure venom and hatred.
“Nick shouted out: ‘You’ve assaulted Royston.’
“I think Rachel said she was sorry but I was in shock.”
Rachel was contacted by The Sun for comment on Wednesday but has yet to reply.
Royston is being supported by his partner Nick Malenko in the aftermath of the incident.
Like Royston, Nick is furious about the way the incident has been handled.
Nick adds: “Royston is nearly 70, he is a pensioner.
“Pushing him around is not correct.
“The look on Rachel’s face was pure evil, it still haunts me.”
Following the incident, Royston went to his doctor and said he is suffering mentally with the aftermath of the shove.
He says: “After it happened I couldn’t . I phoned the doctor and got sleeping tablets which I’ve never done.
Royston spoke to The Sun and said he was suffering with his mental health after the incident Credit: Getty
Some of the cast, from left: Amir Chohan, Paige Chohan, Lystra Adams, Ampika Pickston, Nick Molenco and Royston Blythe, at the National Reality TV Awards last year Credit: Getty
“It tapped into something deep inside me. I haven’t been myself since it happened and am under the doctor for and stress.
“It was after that I ended up phoning the .
“It was logged with Crewe Police, before it was moved to Manchester and then where Rachel lives.”
Following the row, Royston claims he was contacted by an executive who works for UTAS UK Productions , the makers of RHOC.
“This person had the nerve to call me up and ask me to be nice to Rachel,” Royston explains.
“But the atmosphere changed after I said I had reported the matter to the police.”
Royston said he has now quit the show and will not return.
He is now speaking with the show’s HR department but says mentally he is still not recovered from what happened.
“All these weeks later and I’m still not right,” Royston says.
“They sent me to a therapist. I spoke to their HR twice in London.
“During the second interview, an American woman told me: ‘We’ve looked at the case and come to the conclusion, yes, company rules have been broken, she was not supposed to have pushed you.’
“They said they would speak to Rachel and I would get a letter – but I never got a letter.
Real Housewives Of Cheshire is one of the most famous in the franchise and has been streamed globally over 100million times Credit: PR Handout
Businesswoman Rachel joined Real Housewives Of Cheshire in 2017 Credit: Getty
Rachel was contacted by The Sun for comment, but has yet to reply Credit: instagram/@rachellugo1
“I haven’t been going out anywhere because I don’t want to bump into her.
“I’m mentally upset, I can’t stop thinking about it.
“I’m 69-years-old now and I’m still so passionate about the show. I thought I would just do a few more years.
“But I’ve had to come off it for the sake of my mental .”
Royston says he is still waiting to hear the outcome of the police and has limited contact with the production company who make .
He adds: “I want a letter of apology.
“It’s been over five weeks now.
“It was a public event, the humiliation made me feel small. And the way it was handled afterwards.
“There have been rows on the shows before but I have never been manhandled or shoved.”
Royston adds: “The other housewives have been calling me and urging me to drop the case because they need the show.
“But this is about more than fame and so I can’t just let it go for the sake of my own sanity.”
The Sun contacted ITV and UTAS UK Productions on Wednesday and they did not respond.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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