The news of Sam Thompson and Zara McDermott’s breakup came as a shock to fans. The couple had been together for five years and their relationship had been filled with ups and downs. Zara had cheated on Sam five years ago with music executive Brahim Fouradi, causing a rift in their relationship that they could never fully recover from. The cheating scandal was documented on Made In Chelsea after Zara appeared on the X Factor as part of a group of former Love Island contestants.
Brahim Fouradi, the music executive that Zara cheated on Sam with, is well known in the music industry. He has worked on shows like The X Factor and has represented various artists over the years. Prior to working behind the scenes, Brahim was in a music duo with his brother and has held roles at Sony Music, X Factor NL, and Syco Entertainment. Despite his professional success, his involvement in Zara’s affair with Sam caused a significant amount of turmoil in their relationship.
After Zara’s infidelity came to light, Sam initially ended their relationship but the couple eventually reconciled. Zara issued a public apology for her actions and the couple worked through their issues. They defied coronavirus rules in January 2021 by flying off to the Maldives and moved in together in Sam’s Chelsea home. Sam explained that he believed in forgiveness and that forgiving Zara was crucial for their relationship to move forward.
Despite their efforts to make things work, Sam and Zara’s relationship eventually came to an end just over five years after the cheating scandal. Sources close to the couple indicated that their relationship had felt strained for some time, with Zara’s infidelity continuing to cast a shadow over their partnership. The couple split for good after spending New Year apart and focused on their individual careers moving forward into 2025.
The couple’s relationship saw both of their careers flourish during their time together. Sam won I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! and Zara became the first Love Island star to appear on Strictly Come Dancing. However, their personal lives faced challenges, such as Zara making a complaint against her Strictly partner Graziano Di Prima, who was subsequently removed from the show for his behavior. Despite their individual successes, the strain of their relationship ultimately led them to part ways.
In the aftermath of their breakup, friends of the couple expressed their belief that Sam and Zara were not well-suited for each other. The couple’s failure to last the distance was attributed to the lingering impact of Zara’s cheating scandal, with sources suggesting that they had been delaying the inevitable as their lives had grown apart. Despite their efforts to reconcile and move forward, it became clear that their relationship could no longer withstand the challenges they faced.
