Entertainment
Joey Essex laughs off Maura Higgins kiss and says he doesn’t remember it: ‘All I remember is her tongue down my throat’-Rachael O'Connor-Entertainment – Metro
That’s that, then.
Maura Higgins and Joey Essex’s smooch sparked romance rumours in October (Picture: Backgrid)
Joey Essex has spoken about his kiss with Maura Higgins that set the rumour mill into overdrive last year.
The I’m A Celebrity and Towie star, 32, and Love Island beauty, also 32, were seen sharing what appeared to be fairly passionate kiss at the after part of the Pride of Britain awards last October.
Photographs from the night saw the reality stars in an embrace after the star-studded event at Grosvenor House in London, and rumours the pair were dating began to emerge.
Now, months later, in a new interview with heat magazine, Joey was asked about the headline-grabbing kiss, and it doesn’t seem like the pair were seeking around and secretly dating.
Asked what had happened on the night with the Irish model, Joey admitted: ‘I don’t know – I can’t even remember.’
He added, via MailOnline: ‘I mean all I remember is her tongue being down my throat to be honest.’
However fans who were hoping for them to become a couple will be disappointed as Joey appears to say it was just a drunken kiss (Picture: Backgrid)
The reality star admits he doesn’t even really remember it (Picture: Backgrid)
The outlet went on to say that Joey’s PR jumps in at this point to wrap up the interview.
Maura herself appeared to dismiss the rumours at the time, taking to her Instagram story where she joked: ‘It’s how I greet people.’
She later responded to a headline claiming the pair had been on secret dates, labelling it ‘rubbish’.’
On the night, Maura was looking sensational in a lemon yellow halter neck dress, her hair piled up in a bun, while Joey was decked out in a sharp black suit, white shirt and a red tie.
Maura already rubbished dating rumours and joked it was just how she greets people (Picture: Getty Images)
Joey and Maura got close at the event in October (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)
The pair were photographed standing close together at the Red Bar in the hotel following the ceremony, where they appeared to passionately lock lips.
Joey was seen resting his head on the Love Island star’s shoulder following the kiss, as the pair were also seen chatting animatedly.
The snaps came after Maura split with Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Giovanni Pernice the previous October.
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Maura and Giovanni had confirmed their whirlwind romance in July 2021 but parted ways just a few months later, with their busy schedules believed to have been the catalyst for the romance not working out.
Metro.co.uk has contacted reps for Maura for comment
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