Kerry Katona has opened up about the backlash she received for dating Brian McFadden.
The pair got together in the early 2000s when Westlife and Atomic Kitten were at the height of their fame.
But not everyone was on board with the romance, as Kerry revealed in her new! magazine column that they initially broke up because people were against them.
She explained that Simon Cowell , who managed Westlife then, "hated me" and "threw a magazine at Brian's head" when he found out the pair were together.
Kerry claimed she nearly got fired from Atomic Kitten because of the relationship and bandmate Natasha Hamilton "turned against me" over worries about their career.
Sympathising with Cheryl following her split from One Direction star Liam Payne, Kerry said she understood the hatred that she's received for dating a "world-famous boybander".
Kerry explained that she would get pelted with bottles and received death threats for being with Brian, who she married in 2002 before going on to have two children, and subsequently getting a divorce in 2004.
Speaking of the backlash from the industry and fans alike, the mum-of-five went on to explain that it caused problems.
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"I was heartbroken and Brian and I stopped seeing each other as a result," but the pair secretly got back together.
"Obviously, it all turned out fine. I married him and I won Simon round, but it was a difficult time," she added.
Kerry, who is single following a stint on Celebs Go Dating, said recently that Brian was her favourite ex-husband.
She shares daughters Molly and Lilly-Sue with the ex-Westlife star and explained that they had a good relationship and that he will always be her "first love".
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