Jermaine Jenas understands he has caused his family anguish after being dropped by the BBC for sexting staff, his dad has said.
Dennis Jenas revealed the axed One Show star and former Match of the Day pundit is fighting tooth and nail to keep his 13-year marriage with his ex-model wife Ellie and that his sacking has left him in tatters. Dad Dennis however is standing by his side, with the 63-year-old football coach arguing the BBC’s response was over the top.
The 41-year-old father of four confessed to sending inappropriate messages to workmates on The One Show and has said sorry to the women who received them.
READ MORE: BBC chiefs ‘spent weeks compiling evidence’ against Jermaine Jenas before firing him
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Speaking from his pad in Fort Worth, Texas, Dennis said: “He’s battling to save his marriage. It’s hit the family hard at the end of the day. He knows he shouldn’t have done what he did and he wants to keep his family together and he knows he has hurt his wife and kids.”
(Image: Instagram)
Jenas shares three children with his wife Ellie, and has another child from a previous romance. It’s understood Ellie is “raging” over the scandal.
The unsolicited texts he sent off to at least one employee are said to have come to light “very recently, and that the BBC acted swiftly. Those who have seen the alleged messages, said they were “horrified” by what they clapped eyes on.
Jenas was booted from his BBC gigs last week, where he earned £190,000 for his commentary. Dennis continued: “I called JJ as soon as I saw what had happened. He’s my little man, my trouper, my main guy.
(Image: Instagram)
“I left the UK a long time ago but I’ve kept in contact with him, always. He was very upset of course. He did not think he had been treated well by the BBC. I didn’t ask him what he had done as I knew whatever it was it wasn’t illegal. I tried to give him a boost and the support he needed. He was in a state and needed it at the time.”
Jenas was axed after the BBC tightened up its workplace culture rules in the wake of the Huw Edwards and Strictly controversies. The ex-newsreader bailed before admitting to having indecent pictures of children, reports the Mirror.
Dennis believes the BBC’s tarring his boy with the same brush as Edwards. He blasted: “Whatever Jermaine has done is not illegal. It is completely wrong for the BBC and others to put him in the same bracket as Huw Edwards. Edwards is a convicted sex offender. Jermaine is not. He does not deserve to be treated like Edwards has been treated.
“Only the BBC knows if they treated individuals differently, for lesser supposed mistakes.”
Jenas has admitted his behaviour was a “huge error of judgment” and said sorry to the recipients, as well as Ellie. Jenas accepted he had cheated, but insisted nothing physical happened.
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