The other woman is Mariah’s manager, Stella Bulochnikov, who James “just can’t stand” close sources revealed exclusively to Woman’s Day today.
“He cannot tolerate her dictator style,” our insider says.
“She’s a constant in their lives and can be very abrasive. He can’t cop her at all.”
Mariah today confirmed the split that Woman’s Day revealed in a world exclusive story yesterday, but insists she and James are “trying to work it out” after a huge fight in Greece last month when they were holidaying on his superyacht Arctic P.
“The fight was not because of any cheating allegations or excessive spending by Mariah,” her rep told US entertainment show ET, noting that James, 49, is “one of the most successful businessmen in the world.”
“They are trying to work it out. Right now, they’re not sure if they will stay together.”
Sources tell us the fight was over Stella, who has been described as “manipulative” in the US media, with Page Six reporting that almost all of Mimi’s loyal entourage have left because of Stella’s “dictator” style of management.
“It seems as if Mariah has allowed a complete stranger, her new manager, to run her life, and others believe this woman is toxic. Seasoned executives in their profession don’t want to put up with her,” an insider explained to Page Six.
“Stella is hard to work with. Mariah doesn’t understand what’s going on because Stella paints a different picture, so Mariah probably thinks it’s petty disagreements. These are not just random people who have left her. These are loyal people who have been around for years, some 20,” the source added.
Over the weekend, the singer put on a united front and posted a photo with Stella.
Mariah and her manager Stella Bulochnikov are extremely close.
Meanwhile her business manager Michael Kane, international publicist Connie Filippello, domestic publicist Chris Chambers, tour manager Michael Richardson, travel manager Gaylni Winkler and stylist Wilfredo, who designed her engagement ring, have all quit, the newspaper says.
At this stage Mariah, 46, is hanging onto the 35-carat, $13m diamond sparkler James gave her when he proposed in January. And sources say she may even follow James, who flew home this week, to Australia to try and save their relationship.
James had increasingly clashed with Stella in the lead up to the launch of Mimi’s reality TV show Mariah’s World, which is widely expected to be “car crash TV” and embarrass the diva and the more conservative James.
It’s also been reported that most of her entourage opposed the show, which has been largely steered by Stella.
Woman’s Day understands James and Mimi’s falling out was over Stella.
