NIKKI Grahame’s best pal Imogen Thomas has accused Big Brother winner Pete Bennett of seeking attention from her death.
As late Nikki’s loved ones and fans grieved her loss, Imogen was shocked that Pete, 40, who briefly dated the star, posted a recent picture of them on social media.
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She claims he “cruelly betrayed” her memory after he also shared her final text message to him.
Pete insisted Nikki, who died last April, had given him permission to post the image that showed her looking dangerously thin.
Imogen now wants to set the record straight.
She says: “He just rocked up at 1am with his girlfriend and took that picture. He only stayed for an hour.”
Imogen insists she initially contacted Pete privately, politely asking him to take down the picture.
But she says: “He went off on one. I’ve got loads of photos of Nikki on my phone but I’d never post them online. It doesn’t even look like Nik. He then decided to go on every TV show and talk about her and this picture was popping up everywhere.
“It wasn’t nice for her mum and the rest of her family and friends.”
It would have been Nikki’s 40th birthday later this month. The pair had planned to return to Las Vegas to mark the occasion, but Imogen will now spend it alone in Mexico.
She says: “I just wanted to be away. Nik loved to travel so I’m going to sit on the beach with an espresso martini, which was her favourite cocktail. I know she will be looking down on me.”
And no doubt giving a nod of approval.
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Nikki had a lifelong battle with anorexia and in a recent interview her devastated mum Sue told how she was failed by the health service.
She said in an interview with New! magazine: “Unfortunately all those years ago GPs weren’t as knowledgeable about eating disorders and I was told it was just a phase she was going through. I knew from the very start that I was up against it.
“I started to bring Nikki home from school at lunchtime so I could supervise her meals as from day one it was like she was an experienced anorexic. It was like it was always there waiting to come out and she knew all the tricks to avoid eating.
“I was so desperate for her to put on weight that I’d make her sit naked to eat her food otherwise spaghetti Bolognese would end up stuffed in her socks or hidden in her knickers.”
Sue revealed Nikki had home visits from social workers and health professionals, but her condition wasn’t taken seriously owing to a lack of understanding and “ignorance”.
Nikki Grahame: Who Is She? airs on Channel 4 at 9pm on Thursday.
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