Curtis Pritchard has headed off on tour with the blonde dancer he was accused of cheating on his ex-girlfriend Maura Higgins with just days after their split.
And, Amber Pierson took to Instagram on Friday afternoon to set the record straight, after a week of dealing with the false ‘cheating’ allegations and negative messages on social media.
The dancer dismissed claims she’d had a fling with Curtis, 24, behind Maura’s, 29, back as ‘complete lies,’ as she branded the Love Island hunk ‘a lovely and talented guy’ and insisted they have ‘NEVER been together.’
Hitting back: Amber Pierson took to Instagram on Friday afternoon to set the record straight, after a week of dealing with the false ‘cheating’ allegations and negative messages
She wrote: ‘I didn’t want to speak out about this, but I feel I have to as I have been receiving a few abusive messages recently regarding what’s been in the papers.
‘To be very clear, Curtis and I have never been together. We are simply friends and dancer partners! There are 13 dancers going on tour, and I am one of them.
‘The “cheating” allegations this week are out of the blue and complete lies.
‘I wanted no part in this but what I will say is Curtis is genuinely a lovely and talented guy, who doesn’t deserve any of this. Hope that’s set the record straight and we can move on. Amber x.’
Tour time: Curtis Pritchard, 24, has headed off on tour with the blonde dancer he was accused of cheating on his ex-girlfriend Maura Higgins, 29, with just days after their split
Setting the record straight! The dancer dismissed claims she’d had a fling with the Love Island hunk behind his ex Maura’s back as ‘complete lies,’
Love Island star Curtis is kicking off his dance tour – AJ Live – alongside his pro dancer brother AJ and a group of backing dancers in Aberdeen on Friday evening.
The dancer accused of having a romance with Curtis, Amber Pierson, is joining the brothers’ show but sources close to the pair denied he had been involved with Amber during his relationship with Maura.
Amber has shared a series of updates on her Instagram ahead of the first show, including a 6am snap of herself in her travelling attire before hitting the airport.
She looked stylish in a blue boiler suit which she wore belted around her lithe waist and teamed with a baby blue felt bucket hat.
Amber also shared a clip of the team heading for their flight and although his brother AJ and his girlfriend Abbie Quinnen were there, Curtis appeared notably absent.
Squad: Amber also shared a clip of the team heading for their flight and although his brother AJ and his girlfriend Abbie Quinnen were there, Curtis appeared notably absent
She’s big! Making it clear she had arrived at the first venue, Amber also posted a video of P&J Live arena hours before the show is due to begin
Making it clear she had arrived at the first venue, Amber also posted a video of P&J Live arena hours before the show is due to begin.
It comes after Curtis took to Instagram to thank his family for their support after his split from Maura, sharing a photo with AJ and their mum Debi and dad Adrian.
Posing on a stage for AJ’s new dance show, AJ Live, Curtis penned: ‘#Family. The people that always support me …..’
Family: It comes after Curtis took to Instagram to thank his family for their support after his split from Maura, sharing a photo with AJ and their mum Debi and dad Adrian
To which AJ commented: ‘Always Support each other.. ❤️.’
The snap was posted hours after Curtis’ friend reportedly claimed Maura ‘wasn’t that into’ the dancer and ‘wanted a way out’ of their eight-month romance.
Maura announced her shock split from the ballroom pro earlier this week, and a pal allegedly said their break-up may have been down to a ‘problem on her side’.
Sweet: The ballroom pro, took to Instagram to share a photo of himself with fellow dancer brother AJ, 25, his mother Debi and father Adrian
Siblings: To which AJ commented: ‘Always Support each other.. ❤️.’
Split: It comes after Curtis’ friend reportedly claimed Maura ‘wasn’t that into’ the dancer and ‘wanted a way out’ of their eight-month romance (pictured over the summer)
The insider said: ‘Throughout the relationship all I’ve ever seen is Curtis gushing about how much he loves Maura.He was genuinely so happy with her. I think the problem may have been on her side and not his.
‘Maybe she just wanted a way out of the relationship and wasn’t that in to him after leaving the villa. I do feel bad for Curtis because he’s taken the high road and won’t get involved in a slanging match with someone he cared so much for.’
The source also pointed out that Maura failed to acknowledge her former boyfriend on Valentine’s Day, despite Curtis’ gushing tribute.
They added: ‘But I really feel for the poor girl who people are saying Curtis cheated with. All she’s done is be one of like 20 dancers in AJ’s show, and now she’s being trolled online for something she didn’t do. The truth will find a way out eventually.’
It’s OVER: Maura announced her shock split from the ballroom pro, 24, earlier this week (pictured last year)
MailOnline contacted Maura and Curtis’ representatives for further comment.
It was recently claimed Maura and Curtis rowed over her friendship with her Dancing On Ice partner Alexander Demetriou, 28.
The Sun reported that Alex’s friendly relationship with Maura has caused arguments with his Dancing On Ice skater wife Carlotta Edwards, 34.
Rumours: Curtis’ pal has allegedly said their break-up may have been down to a ‘problem on her side’
Signs? The source also pointed out that Maura failed to acknowledge her former boyfriend on Valentine’s Day, despite Curtis’ gushing tribute (pictured)
It was reported last month that Carlotta had been left troubled by their ‘close relationship’ and was worried Maura ‘had turned her husband’s head’.
A source told the publication: ‘Maura spent hours and hours with Alex in rehearsals for weeks and they have got really close.
‘They have grown very friendly and it’s not gone unnoticed with the rest of the cast and crew — or Carlotta.
Uh oh: It was recently claimed Maura and Curtis rowed over her friendship with her Dancing On Ice partner Alexander Demetriou, 28 (pictured in February)
On the rocks? It has also been claimed that Alex’s friendly relationship with Maura has caused arguments with his DOI skater wife Carlotta Edwards, 34 (pictured in December)
‘She is furious about their increasingly cosy relationship which has continued despite Maura being knocked out of the competition.’
The ‘upset’ reality star was seen grabbing a coffee with the professional skater in Chelmsford, Essex on Tuesday.
The dancing duo were eliminated from the ITV skating show last month but have remained good friends.
It has also been reported that Maura confronted Curtis over claims that he had cheated on her with dancer Amber. Either way, the relationship appeared to have been doomed.
Friends: The new report comes after Maura was spotted having a catch-up with her Dancing On Ice partner Alexander (pictured on show) on Tuesday following her split from Curtis
The couple were hit by claims that they secretly split three months ago. Maura allegedly felt pressured to stay in her relationship with the hunk in a bid to boost their profile, despite only announcing their split on Monday – claims that Curtis strongly denies.
According to a source, Maura and Curtis’ relationship turned sour following their row at the National Television Awards in January.
The couple were reportedly told that if they stayed together they could make millions.
A representative for Curtis told MailOnline that Curtis had not been unfaithful to Maura and the pair had not faked any aspect of their relationship.
Shocking: The couple were hit by claims that they secretly split three months ago (pictured in January)
Anonymous: An anonymous account tweeted that Curtis had been ‘kissing and hugging’ fellow dancer Amber Pierson
Night out: Curtis posed for pictures with Amber (centre) and AJ, as well as other performers on the tour at Freedom Bar in London’s Soho
Curtis denied any wrongdoing after being questioned by Maura – but sources say it was the final straw for the couple, who confirmed their split on Monday.
An insider told MailOnline: ‘Maura and Curtis hadn’t been right since the night of the National Television Awards.
‘First it was a video of Curtis looking close to a girl on New Year’s Eve, which was published the same day as Maura’s first live performance on Dancing on Ice. Then their fallout at the NTAs.
‘But the tip of the iceberg for Maura was having to confront Curtis over a tweet which said he kissed Amber, who he performs with on tour. It seemed to be following a pattern.’