Natalie Cassidy claims Paloma Faith bullied her at school, but Paloma says she was also a victim of bullying at the same “rough” London comprehensive.
Former EastEnders star Cassidy, 43, recently opened up about her difficult school years on her podcast Life With Nat, alleging that the singer now 43, had bullied her when they both attended Islington Green School in north London.
“Paloma Faith — she bullied me at school,” the TV favourite said. “She went to Islington Green and was in the year above me. We’ve spoken about it and she has said sorry about that. Gutted.”
Now, unearthed comments from the How To Leave A Man hit-maker suggest her own experience was far from easy either.
In a post shared to X, formerly Twitter, in 2012, Faith shared: “Yes, I got bullied at school. I had braces and, before that, wonky teeth.”
Both stars grew up in neighbouring boroughs — Cassidy in Islington, Faith in Hackney — and crossed paths at at the education instituion, which has since rebranded as City of London Academy Islington.
The school famously provided vocals for Pink Floyd’s Another Brick in the Wall in 1979, but by the 1990s, it had a more troubled reputation.
In fact, in 1995, then-Labour leader Tony Blair opted to send his son Euan elsewhere, and the school was placed in special measures just two years later.
Faith has previously described the environment as “very, very rough,” recalling police presence and frequent violence.
“The tough environment helped me develop a strong sense of self. I had to learn to stick to my guns and be stubborn,” she elaborated further.
Despite the tensions, the mum-of-two has expressed gratitude for her teachers, calling them “incredible” and crediting them for pushing her to achieve all As at GCSE level, even earning her a feature in local paper the Hackney Gazette.
Opening up to The Standard previously, she emphasised that she was self-made, with no formal music training, no industry connections, and no stint at the prestigious BRIT School.
“I did it all myself. I had no famous parents, no stage school,” she said. “I didn’t have lessons, ever—I just copied records.”
Faith later studied contemporary dance at university in Leeds before completing a master’s in theatre directing at Central Saint Martins. Along the way, she juggled numerous jobs, including working in lingerie retail, singing in burlesque clubs, and even assisting a magician.
Former child star Cassidy meanwhile landed her breakthrough role as Sonia Fowler on EastEnders when she was just 10.
She took acting classes at the famed Anna Scher Theatre School, where she was spotted by a casting director for the BBC soap.
The mum-of-two remained a regular on the E20-set show for decades before departing earlier this year as part of its 40th-anniversary storyline.
Decades later, it seems the real drama was unfolding behind the school gates all along.
