BIG BROTHER'S TULLY OPENS UP ABOUT HER SPLIT WITH DREW
Confirming their break-up, the Big Brother star tells OK! what went wrong
When OK! meets Big Brother’s Tully Smyth in Sydney’s Manly, she’s all smiles.
Despite having broken up with boyfriend Anthony ‘Drew’ Drew over Christmas, she’s putting on a brave face for our shoot today.
Tully caused controversy when she hooked up with Drew, 25, in the house despite having a girlfriend on the outside, but the couple were defiant and determined to make their relationship work.
‘We had a lot of pressure coming out of the house. I had five minutes with him when he got off the stage where we had to define our relationship,’ says Tully, 26. ‘Then, at first, it was all rainbows and butterflies and fun parties − until reality set in and the bubble burst.’
During our chat, the star sets the record straight on cheating allegations and, in a candid moment, breaks down while opening up about her relationship with her mother, who developed early-onset Alzheimer’s when Tully was just 16.
‘I’ve only just started talking about it,’ she admits. ‘For someone who’s such an over-sharer and emotional and cries about everything, my mum is the one thing I haven’t talked about or dealt with.’
It is true you and Drew have split up?
We’re not together. It was a lot of pressure living in different states, and the regular couples’ issues seemed to be magnified being out of the house.
Who instigated the break-up?
Both of us. It was mutual. We both wanted it to work really badly and when it wasn’t, we’d get angry with ourselves and upset. It was sad. I felt like I’d risked so much for him; I’d lost a lot.
Was it a case of too much, too soon?
No, I think it’s a case of coming out of a reality TV show. Going in, you think about what it’s going to be like in the house − you don’t really think about the aftermath which, for me, has been a lot to swallow. Getting back into your own reality and catching up with friends who don’t really understand what’s just happened; you feel a bit lost figuring out where you’re going career-wise, and everyone thinks we’re rolling in cash but we’re actually all broke. Drew and I were both trying to deal with those issues at the same time and we were taking it out on each other.
So you were fighting a lot?
We were arguing a bit and we decided that we’d go away and get ourselves happy and healthy and then see. We’re still the best of friends; we talk three times a day on the phone.
When did all the fighting start?
You saw how much we bickered in the house − that’s just who we are as people. We’re both a bit dramatic and love an argument. It wasn’t as if we just started fighting. It was more that, unfortunately, outside issues were infiltrating into our relationship – money, career and reality. And the pressure from fans. That’s a lot
of pressure most couples don’t have to deal with.
Do you think you’ll work it out?
At the moment we are supporting each other. Maybe in a few months’ time we can give it another shot, but for the moment we’re just mates.
For the exclusive interview, and all the pics, pick up a copy of this week's OK! magazine, on sale now!