In a bombshell interview that’s sent shockwaves through reality TV circles, Maura Higgins has unleashed a scathing takedown of her ex-boyfriend Pete Wicks, branding his beloved “nice guy” image as nothing more than a carefully crafted illusion. The Love Island alum, 34, who dated the TOWIE star from 2016 to 2017, didn’t hold back in a candid chat with The Sun on October 23, 2025, accusing Wicks of manipulating his public persona for sympathy and screen time. “He’s not the kind-hearted guy viewers believe—it’s all staged. Why do you think he only bonds with dogs?” Higgins quipped, referencing Wicks’ viral animal advocacy that has endeared him to fans.

Their romance, a whirlwind of on-off drama during Love Island series five, captivated audiences with its toxic passion. But Higgins, now thriving as a TV presenter and entrepreneur with her own lingerie line, says the fairy tale was a facade. “Pete’s charm is his weapon—he plays the vulnerable lad with tattoos and tears, but behind closed doors, it’s control and chaos,” she revealed. The breaking point came in 2017, when Wicks’ infidelity rumors and emotional volatility led to their split. “He’d cry about his past, make you feel like the savior, then flip the script. The dogs? Safe, no drama. People? Messy.”

Wicks, 37, has built a redemption arc since, hosting Staying Relevant podcast with Sam Thompson and fronting For the Love of Dogs as Paul O’Grady’s successor. His tearful confessionals and rescue-dog segments have painted him as Britain’s soft-hearted hunk, earning 2 million Instagram followers. But Higgins calls foul: “It’s calculated. He knows vulnerability sells—post-breakup glow-ups, therapy talks. But it’s selective; the real Pete? Avoidant and angry.” She pointed to their post-split interactions, where Wicks allegedly used mutual friends to “test waters” without accountability.

The interview has polarized fans. #TeamMaura surged on X with 300,000 posts, supporters praising her “brave truth-telling”: “Finally, someone calls out the red flags—Pete’s ‘nice guy’ act fooled us all!” Wicks’ defenders fired back: “Maura’s bitter—jealous of his success?” His rep issued a statement: “Pete respects Maura but won’t engage in public mudslinging. He’s focused on growth and his work with animals.” TOWIE bosses, filming series 32, are reportedly “monitoring” the fallout to avoid on-set tension.

Higgins, unrepentant, tied her exposé to broader issues. “Women in reality TV get villainized for speaking up—Pete’s the ‘relatable’ one because he cries on cue. It’s toxic masculinity in sheep’s clothing.” Her words echo Love Island‘s post-scandal reforms, where exes like Molly-Mae Hague have shared similar stories of emotional manipulation.

As Wicks promotes his podcast tour, the timing stings—fresh off a Strictly cameo tease. Will this dent his “beloved host” glow-up, or fuel his underdog narrative? For Higgins, it’s closure: “I said my piece. Now, let the facade crack.” In reality TV’s hall of mirrors, truth is the ultimate plot twist—and Maura just flipped the script.