Former Miss Universe star Laura Csortan has hit back at a weekend report published by the Sunday Telegraph, which she says insinuated she could be romantically involved with celebrity accountant, Anthony Bell.
On Sunday Laura, who has never revealed the identity of her daughter Laylaโs father, took to Instagram to set the record straight.
Addressing the story, which published photos of Laura, Anthony and seven-month-old Layla spending time in a luxury beach house on the Gold Coast in late June, Laura began: โI woke up this morning to the most hurtful and cruel article by Annette Sharp. No Mother, let alone a single Mum should be put through an insinuation like this just because they support a friend unconditionally that is of the opposite gender.โ
โFact: Laylaโs father is presently living overseas and does not wish to be dragged through the media. Nor is it anyoneโs business,โ she continued.
โFact: Anthony is one of my closest friends and we are not (nor have we ever been) in a coupled relationship.โ
โFact: My Mum, sister and I have had to watch our dear friend go through a most painful relationship breakdown and we are not the type of people to desert a friend in need at a terribly difficult time. I was not even given the opportunity to respond to the insinuations of Annette Sharp.โ
โThese accusations are heartbreaking to say the least. I just hope they donโt affect my daughter or Anthonyโs two girls for that matter down the track,โ she concluded.
Since welcoming her daughter in November last year, 40-year-old Laura has insisted the father โdoesnโt want to be ยญinvolvedโ in Laylaโs life.
โWhen the babyโs older Iโm happy with her finding out who her father is,โ the Great Outdoors presenter explained.
Meanwhile Anthony is currently splitting from his wife Kelly Landry.
Speaking to the Sunday Telegraph, the 53-year-old also denied any romantic involvement with Laura.
โThere is absolutely no truth to that ยญrumour. Laura and her mother and sister have been close family friends for nearly 15 years and have been very supportive in this difficult time for me. We have never been any more than good friends,โ he said.
โI have spent some time with Laura and her family ยญrecently on the Gold Coast, where they are all living, as well as with other friends.โ