Pop star-turned-swimmer Cody Simpson recently brushed off rumours of a ‘love triangle’ between his pool champion girlfriend Emma McKeon and her swim king ex Kyle Chalmers.
But Cody’s romantic drama has just begun, a swimming insider has claimed.
The Golden Thing singer, 25, made headlines earlier this month after Emma’s ex Kyle, 23, backflipped on his decision to skip the 100m butterfly at the world championships, ending Cody’s hopes of competing in the event.
Cody was quick to tell Today host Karl Stefanovic last week he and Kyle had ‘cleared the air’, but speculation has continued to swirl that Kyle’s decision to compete in the butterfly race was motivated by the fact Cody is dating Emma, 28.
‘The bottom line is Emma broke it off with Kyle last year, and is now in a serious relationship with Cody – that should be the end of it, but unfortunately it looks like it could get worse before it gets better,’ the insider told New Idea magazine.
The source went on to say the drama was ‘overshadowing’ the swim trials for the upcoming World Championships in Budapest and Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Backflip: The Golden Thing singer made headlines earlier this month after Emma’s ex Kyle backflipped on his decision to skip the 100m butterfly at the world championships, ending Cody’s hopes of competing in the event
‘The whole crazy saga really is straight out of a soap opera!’ they lamented.
Cody will compete in the butterfly events at the upcoming Commonwealth Games, but has missed out on a spot for the World Championships.
He looked to have booked himself a spot at the worlds in the 100m butterfly after finishing third in the event at the national swimming championships in Adelaide, behind Kyle and winner Matt Temple.
Swim saga: ‘The bottom line is Emma broke it off with Kyle last year, and is now in a serious relationship with Cody – that should be the end of it, but unfortunately it looks like it could get worse before it gets better,’ an insider told New Idea magazine
Australia can only field two representatives and Cody was expected to make it because Kyle would drop out due to his busy schedule and need to preserve his body after picking up serious injuries and undergoing surgery.
However, Kyle subsequently changed his mind, insisting he will compete in the 100m butterfly in Budapest next month.
In a subsequent interview with the Today show, Cody shut down host Karl Stefanovic‘s question about the ‘love triangle’, insisting that he and Kyle had cleared the air and that he ‘respects whatever decision’ Kyle makes about competing.
‘Straight out of a soap opera’: The source said the drama was ‘overshadowing’ the swim trials for the World Championships in Budapest and Commonwealth Games in Birmingham
Not having it: In a recent interview with the Today show, Cody shut down host Karl Stefanovic’s question about the ‘love triangle’, insisting that he and Kyle had cleared the air and that he ‘respects whatever decision’ Kyle makes about competing
When quizzed about his relationship with Emma, Cody shut down Stefanovic, saying: ‘Mate, I’m here to talk about my swimming. I don’t know what you want me to say.’
Kyle, who claimed silver in the 100m freestyle and bronze in both the 4x100m and 4x200m freestyle at the Tokyo Olympics last year, has also strongly denied the love triangle accusations, labelling them ‘hugely pathetic’.
‘It’s the biggest joke I’ve ever heard, to be honest with you,’ Kyle, the Olympic champion in the 100m freestyle at the Rio Olympics in 2016, told 2Day FM.
Smitten: Cody and Emma have been spotted getting cosy in the grandstands
‘I started out a butterflyer, I’ve wanted to be a butterflyer my whole career. My body just hasn’t allowed me to do so, so for me just being able to swim butterfly is so special.
‘Unfortunately, yeah, I’m the one who has to stand up and apologise and be made out to be the villain when all I’ve done is given everything to my sport and my country.’
Kyle, who like Cody was also named in the squad for the Commonwealth Games, also subsequently explained his online absence with a post on Instagram.
Hitting back: Kyle, who claimed silver in the 100m freestyle and bronze in both the 4x100m and 4x200m freestyle at the Tokyo Olympics last year, has strongly the love triangle accusations, labelling them ‘hugely pathetic’
‘The past few days have been really challenging for me mentally and emotionally and it’s taken a massive toll on me. I need to look after my mental health and get myself right as I prepare for a massive year in the pool,’ he wrote.
‘The negative media attention surrounding my decision to compete at worlds and the made-up storylines surrounding my personal life have been more than I can handle.
‘After giving my all to the sport and being so welcoming to the media all my career it’s a shame to see them publish storylines questioning my integrity all for the sake of extra clicks and money.’
Under pressure: Kyle also wrote on Instagram, ‘The negative media attention surrounding my decision to compete at worlds and the made-up storylines surrounding my personal life have been more than I can handle’
