Tristan Phipps opened up about the challenging end to his relationship with on-again, off-again girlfriend Olivia Bentley during Wednesday’s episode of Celebs Go Dating.
The Made In Chelsea stars officially ended their romance in 2023, after a series of reconciliations on the reality TV show.
Tristan, 27, who has since been romantically linked to Lauren Sintes and Julia Pollard on MIC, discussed his past relationship with dating experts Anna Williamson and Paul C. Brunson.
He clarified that the split with Olivia, 29, who also appeared on Celebs Go Dating in 2020, was not due to infidelity or scandals but rather issues with communication.
Tristan explained, “It was really hard; we broke up two or three times during that period and always ended up back together. There was never any cheating or scandals. It was just that our communication about our feelings didn’t align.”
On the Channel 4 reality series, Tristan noted that he is sometimes labeled as a ‘lothario’ or ‘love rat’ following his dramatic relationship with his MIC co-star Lauren.
When asked about his public image, Tristan responded, “I’ve never cheated in my life. I’ve never purposely strung along two women, and there’s never been any overlap with anyone. It bothers me a lot that people judge me based on preconceived notions of who I am.”
Olivia left the show in June to focus on her businesses, despite reports suggesting her departure was influenced by her breakup with Tristan.
Olivia, who joined the show in series 11 in 2016 as a former fling of Sam Thompson, briefly dated Tristan’s close friend David Templer but realized she wasn’t ready for a new relationship.
Olivia later revealed the true reason for stepping away from television, sharing with Pop Sugar that the decision was influenced by her struggles.
She said, “I was having a hard time deciding whether to stay on the show. The last series was particularly difficult, and honestly, I was drinking much more than usual.
I was using alcohol to mask my sadness and give me energy and confidence, which was the wrong approach.”
She continued, “I was trying to project the image of being the Liv everyone expected, but inside I was very unhappy, which is why I stopped drinking.
Despite stepping back, I remain close with my friends from the show, and our friendships have remained strong.”
Earlier this year, a source told The Sun that Olivia had grown weary of being at the center of the drama on the popular reality show.
The source said, “Liv has been central to the drama for years and has been with the show the longest. With her relationship with Tristan falling apart, she realized she needed to take a break for her own well-being.
She’s in a great place now and still loves the show, but is taking a step back for the time being. New cast members are joining who are eager to bring fresh energy to the show.”