Emily Atack has opened up about the overwhelming impact that rumours of her “dating her cousin” have had on her family.
Speaking out for the first time about her relationship with nuclear scientist Alistair Garner, the Inbetweeners actress described the public speculation as “damaging” adding that it caused significant upset among her relatives.
The 34-year-old star, who became a mother in June last year with Garner, managed to keep her pregnancy secret for several months before delighting fans by announcing the arrival of her baby boy, Barney James Garner, the Mirror reports.
Despite knowing each other for years through extended family networks, Emily’s mother, actress Kate Robbins, is reportedly sisters with Alistair’s step-mother Jane Garner, but they are not blood relatives and are related only through marriage.
Reflecting on a challenging year following media exposure of their relationship, Emily told the Guardian: “There were so many articles which were really hurtful, trying to make out there was something untoward about my relationship.
“There were headlines saying that I was dating my cousin, which is very damaging, very awful.”
She also highlighted the wider issue of how women are treated, commenting on the double standards and misogyny they often face.
She said: “We’re not related in any way. I think some family members found that very tough. It’s anger towards women. Men are so angry with sexy women. It’s like, ‘We’ll give you a little bit of power, but not too much. Here, you look nice on this front cover, but also, you’re a fat, ugly pig.'”
Alistair, a University of Manchester alumnus with a PhD, reportedly specialised as a “Materials scientist and electron microscopist specialising in the degradation of high performance alloys for nuclear and aerospace applications” according to the university’s website.
He has experience lecturing and is presently thought to be working for Jacobs, a sustainability firm, where he serves as a Senior Consultant and Technical Lead for Core Materials.
It was in September 2023 that Emily first appeared to be in a relationship with him, as they were spotted strolling through London, hand in hand, evidently enjoying each other’s company during an afternoon outing. At the time, a source reported: “She had a cocktail and Alistair ordered a beer. Emily looked to be having a great time and couldn’t stop smiling. When they left they were holding hands.”
Prior to her romance with Alistair, Emily, linked previously to well-known figures like Harry Styles, McFly’s Dougie Poynter, Strictly Come Dancing’s Giovanni Pernice, and footballer Jack Grealish, expressed how fed up she was of being single, even revealing she often cried before sleeping due to loneliness.
Emily took to Instagram to announce her pregnancy this summer to her 1.8 million followers, announcing joyfully: “Hello everyone, it’s been a little while but I’m back with some news.
“I’m delighted to share with you all that we’re having a baby! I’ve never been so happy and utterly terrified at the same time. Please go easy on me.
“Every day is mixed with thrill, fear, joy, hysteria, topped off with a lot of vomiting – a bit like when you’ve just stepped off of the Oblivion at Alton Towers on a hangover. I’ve got to know my body on such an insane level.
“It’s made me appreciate the one I’ve been given SO much, I’m doing my absolute best to make it a home for the little squid I’m growing. We can already sense the baby is reclined on a mattress with peanut butter and jam sandwiches in there, demanding more chocolate buttons.
“I’m so happy to be writing all of this to you all. You’ve always stuck by me through the years, do stick around to watch me enter my mum era. Christ. Let’s go.”
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