Reality TV Star Bobby Norris Opens Up About Seven-Year Estrangement from Gemma Collins
Former The Only Way Is Essex personality Bobby Norris has broken his silence regarding the current state of his once-close friendship with fellow reality television star Gemma Collins. In a candid public statement, Norris revealed the astonishing fact that he has not physically seen his former co-star and best friend for a period of seven full years.
Gemma Collins's Public Pleas and Unanswered Calls
The revelation comes directly in response to recent comments made by Gemma Collins herself. During an appearance on the Wright At Home podcast alongside presenter Jess Wright and her mother Carol, Collins expressed her confusion and desire to reconnect. She detailed a specific instance where she attempted to call Norris with mutual friend Chloe Sims during one of Sims's visits from Los Angeles, but the call went completely unanswered.
"I'd love to see Bobby again, I don't know where he is," Collins told the podcast hosts, highlighting the depth of their current communication breakdown. She framed the unanswered call as evidence of a friendship that has dramatically faded from its peak during their shared time on the iconic Essex-based reality series.
Bobby Norris's Instagram Response and Humorous Take
Addressing the situation head-on, Bobby Norris took to his Instagram account to post a video statement on Friday, 30th January. He described a recent encounter with a concerned fan who had read the news reports and urged him to contact Collins immediately.
"In my head I'm thinking, 'I ain't seen Gem for like seven years'," Norris recounted in the video, confirming the lengthy separation. He expressed initial concern upon hearing the fan's plea, wondering if something serious had happened to his former friend.
Injecting his signature humour into the sensitive topic, Norris joked about the difficulties of re-establishing contact, quipping that he could "legit contact Marilyn Monroe on a Ouija board quicker than I could get hold of Gem." This remark underscored the complex and seemingly insurmountable communication gap that has developed between the two television personalities.
Reflections on TOWIE Dynamics and 'Bonnie and Clyde' Comparisons
The discussion prompted Norris to reflect on their time together on TOWIE, where they were known as a formidable and often dramatic duo. He recalled the fan referring to them as "Bonnie and Clyde," a comparison he found amusing given the infamous bank-robbing connotations. Norris humorously dismissed the idea of them pulling off a heist, noting the impracticalities and the modern shift towards cashless banking.
Meanwhile, Gemma Collins offered further context on the podcast, admitting that some of their on-screen drama was strategically manufactured. "A lot of what I did, it was just to get up the ranks of airtime," she confessed, explaining the pressure from producers to create compelling content to secure their places on the show. This revelation adds a layer of professional performance to the narrative of their fiery but close friendship.
Alumni Reactions and the Path Forward
Norris's Instagram post did not go unnoticed by their shared circle from the TOWIE world. Fellow alumni Ferne McCann and Jess Wright both commented, with Wright expressing that she misses Norris and even tagging Gemma Collins in her message, perhaps in a subtle nudge towards reconciliation.
Despite the very public airing of their estrangement, Collins suggested that the podcast conversation had actually helped them get back "in contact," hinting at a possible thaw in relations. However, Bobby Norris pointedly chose not to elaborate on the specific reasons behind their seven-year drift apart, leaving the core causes of the friendship's dissolution a matter of private speculation.
The situation highlights the often-fragile nature of friendships forged in the intense, high-pressure environment of reality television, where personal bonds can become entangled with professional demands and public perception.
