Premier League legend caught in his pants with glamour mannequin needed to admit ‘pathetic’ lies
A Premier League legend was forced into making a grovelling apology to his wife after a glamour model took a photo of him in his underwear during their late night tryst in a hotel bedroom.
World Cup hero Oliver Giroud – who turned 40 this week and confirmed he will likely retire at the end of this season – met his American partner Jennifer in 2005, when they were both students in Grenoble in his native France. They went on to tie the knot in 2011, a year before the Ligue 1 winner with Montpellier made a £12million move to Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal.
But in February 2014, just hours before the Gunners were set to face Crystal Palace in a London derby, the dad-of-one sneaked curvy FHM model Celia Kay into the Four Seasons Hotel in Canary Wharf, where Arsenal were staying in advance of a 2-0 victory against the Eagles.
Arsenal legend Olivier Giroud landed himself in hot water with his wife, a glamour model and Arsene Wenger(Image: Michael Regan)
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The 34D brunette was captured on camera just before 1am arriving at the hotel, where she spent the next two hours with the 6ft 4in forward, before slipping away into the night, shortly after 3am.
Days afterwards, a national newspaper claimed Giroud had “romped” with Kay behind his wife’s back at the hotel. Giroud denied Kay had visited his room and said he was taking legal advice.
But a week later the newspaper published its “proof that Giroud cheated”, including a photo – reportedly taken by the model – of the player naked, save for his pants, coming out of a bathroom.
Glamour model Celia Kay took a photo of Olivier Giroud in his underpants after she invited her to his hotel room
Olivier Giroud’s wife Jennifer was not happy(Image: Getty)
Kay, who had also modelled for Maxim magazine and Sports Illustrated, claimed: “Olivier knows the truth and the fact that he lied about us is pathetic.”
Before long, Giroud said sorry to his wife – who had given birth to their first son just months beforehand – along with his family, friends, team-mates and Gunners’ supporters.
He posted a message on social media shortly before a 2-1 win against Liverpool in the FA Cup, in which he remained on the bench until the 88th minute.
Seemingly confessing to cheating with the lingerie model, Giroud wrote: “I apologise to my wife, family and friends and my manager, team-mates and Arsenal fans.
Celia Kay was photographed sneaking into a hotel to see married striker Olivier Giroud(Image:
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“I now have to fight for my family and for my club and obtain their forgiveness. Nothing else matters at the moment.”
Wenger explained Giroud’s unusual absence from the starting line-up by saying that he had “looked a bit tired recently”.
When that answer provoked raised eyebrows, Wenger added: “I know where you want to lead me, slowly but surely. He has made a statement. For the rest we will deal with it internally. I want to respect his privacy.”
The then 27-year-old forward’s partner Jennifer received a torrent of messages on Twitter, offering advice on how to deal with the situation.
Arsene Wenger was not impressed with Olivier Giroud’s behaviour(Image: Stuart MacFarlane / Getty)
Olivier Giroud’s wife Jennifer was not impressed with his actions(Image:
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However, she decided to close the account in a bid to keep her private life away from the watching public.
Giroud then took to Twitter again to clarify the situation regarding the alleged affair, stating that he did not commit adultery.
He wrote: “Ultimate precision with respect to my apologies… Yes I made a mistake but not I have not committed adultery! Things are clear.”
Kay also claimed she did not sleep with the apologetic forward. But she slammed him for his previous denial that anything had happened between the pair, claiming if he was “big enough to do the crime, he’s got to serve the time”.
Celia Kay claimed people “didn’t know the whole story”
Olivier Giroud and wife Jennifer(Image:
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She tweeted: “Haters will always hate… Especially when they don’t know the whole story.”
Giroud would later address the alleged affair in more detail. He said: “There was some things which were true, some others were false, but that’s the past.
“What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger. I’m convinced that everything happened to me will make me stronger.
“That’s all I need to do: focus on the pitch with my club and take care of my family. It’s been a difficult period. You have to be strong in your head.”
Giroud added: “I used football as an outlet. The contribution of the coach Arsene Wenger was very important. I could talk with him.
“Now I just want to forget about it, move on to something else and make a new start.”
Giroud, who has since had another three children with his wife Jennifer, would go on to lift the FA Cup with Arsenal that season, again the following year, and in 2017.
He then made an eyebrow-raising move to Chelsea, where he lifted the FA Cup again, plus the Champions League and Europa League, before spells with AC Milan – where he won a Scudetto – and Los Angeles FC, before moving back to France with his current club Lille.
Giroud’s wife forgave him(Image:
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Giroud cemented his footballing legacy by capturing the World Cup with France in 2018, before going on to become his nation’s record scorer in the tournament, until Kylian Mbappe moved ahead of him.
He has netted 57 times in 137 appearances for Les Bleus. However, he has now confirmed he intends to hang up his boots in the near future.
Speaking to L’Equipe this week, he said: “As a player, I think this is very likely my last season. That’s why I’m trying to enjoy every moment.
“I am at peace with myself and with everything I have done in my career.”
