OLIVIA Attwood has defended her pal Pete Wicks after Maura Higgins' cheating jibe.
The TV star explained her "controversial" joke at the Brit Awards, telling fans: "I’m very protective of my friends."
It came after Pete told MailOnline: "It's hard for Sam Thompson tonight because I've got a new work wife. But, he's not far away, he's over there actually."
He added: "It is a little bit weird because it feels like I am..."
"Cheating?" Olivia laughed, referencing Maura's claims that Pete was "probably out cheating" on Valentine's Day.
Pointing out she was making a joke of the situation, Olivia said: "Cheating's not funny. Pete didn't cheat. That is the joke. Hope that helps."
She added: "Well I appreciate that you could read between the lines - I had to comment because A LOT of people couldn't - because that's not something I would find funny at all.
"And I'm just going to caveat that with with I'm very protective of my friends, but I don't hate / have feuds / at war with anyone.
"You guys have seen my work schedule - I don't have time to eat most days."
Olivia added: "When I get up in my feelings I probably shouldn't do coded Instagram Stories because then things get misconstrued. I'll just say it with my chest in future if I'm upset."
She was referring to a cryptic post she shared recently, claiming she had a secret that would "blow your f***ing mind."
Olivia said: "One day I'm going to write a book and some of the stuff I have managed to keep [zipped mouth emoji] on over the years.
"It will blow your f***ing mind.
"You can try to hire all the same people, regurgitate my stories as your own, study the playbook, follow the recipe blah blah blah, but it will NEVER taste the same. That's all."
It was revealed last month that reality TV duo Pete and Maura had split after a series of fiery rows.
Sources have since claimed that the ITV2 beauty, 34, called it quits after discovering her man was chatting with "loads" of girls online.
They had spent Christmas together after their six-year friendship turned romantic.
Now Irish model Maura is under fire for a "drunken kiss" with her married I'm A Celeb co-star Danny Jones at the Brits bash.
