Vanessa Feltz’s ex Ben Ofoedu ‘quits’ social media after being trolled online following split

Vanessa Feltz‘s ex partner Ben Ofoedu has ‘quit’ social media after being trolled online by fans following their recent split.

The singer, 50, has come under fire after former partner of 16 years Vanessa announced the two had broken up due to alleged cheating rumours.

Broadcaster Vanessa, 60, has had a tough time recently but has been showered with support by fellow stars in the media industry.

Ben, however, appears to have been hit by the brunt of criticism as he has removed the comments section of his recent Instagram posts to stop trolls from commenting abuse any more.

It comes after Vanessa’s daughter Allegra Kurer told how the family was devastated to learn of Ben’s alleged behaviour.

‘Quit’: Vanessa Feltz’s ex partner Ben Ofoedu has ‘quit’ social media after being trolled online by fans following their recent split

Allegra, 37, and her younger sister Saskia, 34, received the awful messages over the festive period and knew they had to tell their mother.  

She said: ‘It was on Christmas Day, of all days. We were all together as a family, but Ben was away in pantomime, when the messages appeared via Instagram.

‘Until that moment we were having a really lovely time, the children were having a lovely time, so for us to just receive that via a social media account was the most dreadful shock.

‘It was anonymous, and of course it revealed lots that we didn’t know — but it was also very abusive and extremely hurtful,’ she told The Sun. 

Allegra said it was ‘horrible’ when the time came to tell Vanessa about the messages, which she described as ‘abusive’.

While Allegra noted the messages were anonymous, she said there was enough information to know the claims against Ben were true. 

Allegra added that she has contacted the police over the messages and hopes something can be done about it. 

She added that Ben has been such a close part of their family for so long that the breakup has been ‘devastating’ for all of them.

Criticism: The singer, 50, has come under fire after former partner of 16 years Vanessa announced the two had broken up due to alleged cheating rumours

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Shock: It comes after Vanessa learned her ex-fiancé was cheating on her on Christmas Day when his lover trolled her daughter Allegra online, (Vanessa and Allegra pictured in 2021)

MailOnline has contacted representatives of Ben Ofoedu for comment.

The very public split has seen Ben get abuse online, including comments of him being ‘disrespectful’ and fans thought he was ‘inappropriate’ for posting on social media to the song Dreams by Fleetwood Mac.

Snapped travelling on a train, the singer broke his social media silence with a video of him smiling and laughing while singing along. 

Some followers said they would unfollow him after hearing of his breakup with Vanessa ‘in solidarity’ with the broadcaster. 

It was posted last Sunday, just after the news of their breakup surfaced – with some followers deeming the upload as ‘inappropriate’, while others pledged to unfollow him in solidarity with Vanessa. 

Relationship: The broadcaster, 60, has had a tough time recently after revealing she had split from her partner of 16 years

It comes after Vanessa enjoyed a post-breakup refresh, heading to the hairdressers on Thursday. 

Keeping positive, Vanessa decided to have a spot of pampering, declaring ‘when all else fails get that barnet fixed.’

Sharing an update on Instagram, the TV and radio star was in good spirits as she spoke to her fans from the hairdresser’s chair.  

‘Morning I’m at the hairdresser and what I think is when all else fails get that barnet fixed,’ she quipped.

Spot of pampering: It comes after Vanessa enjoyed a post-breakup refresh, heading to the hairdressers on Thursday

New do: Keeping positive, Vanessa decided to have a spot of pampering, declaring ‘when all else fails get that barnet fixed’

She later shared a photo of the transformation in process as she waited for her cut after a wash.

Vanessa recently revealed she is trying her best to ‘put on a brave face’ in the wake of her split.

Speaking with Ulrika Jonsson on her TalkTV show on Wednesday, Vanessa admitted she’s trying to stay positive for the sake of her audience.

She said: ‘I’m doing my best to put on a brave face. After all, I’m at work, this is my job. 

‘I don’t want to burden my listeners and viewers by looking thoroughly miserable so they dread watching the programme and thinking, ‘oh God, Is Vanessa falling apart before our very eyes?’ So I’m trying to do a professional job and bear up.’

The TV personality said she did have one moment of sorrow on her way to work earlier this week.

Candid: Vanessa revealed she is trying her best to ‘put on a brave face’ in the wake of her split from Ben

She said: ‘I did have one moment on the escalator coming up from the tube on Monday and I thought, ‘oh gosh.”

Journalist Vanessa and Ben first met in 2005 after she divorced surgeon Michael Kurer in 2000 who she discovered had also allegedly cheated on her. 

She and Michael were married for 17 years and they share daughters Allegra, 37, and Saskia, 34. 

Talking about Ben’s alleged infidelities, Vanessa said on This Morning: ‘It wasn’t me that told anybody about it, I tried to keep it private as much as I could. 

‘You know that everyone knows your private business, but on the other hand, you don’t have to keep explaining it and everyone gives you a cuddle.’

And talking about the 10-year age gap with Ben, Vanessa said: ‘I’ve never really known why I’m of interest, he was younger, I was older. We were different.

‘Now it’s over, I don’t know.’

Split: The broadcaster revealed in recent days that she and her fiancé, 50, had parted ways amid claims he ‘ cheated with several other women ‘ (pictured in 2018)

She added: ‘It helps when people say that you shouldn’t feel foolish for having faith in your own partner, or feeling stupid for believing somebody you loved. 

‘That’s not ridiculous. I feel sad, I feel hurt, terribly humiliated, but lots have said you shouldn’t. But to believe in your own relationship isn’t stupid.’

Vanessa was asked if she had a feeling that Ben was being unfaithful or if her discovery was a complete shock. 

She said: ‘Both, I think, terrible shock and a kind of gradual thing, It’s often the case, a mixture of the two.

‘I don’t really want to dwell on anything and I want to focus on the future and that there is a future. I want there to be. To really gather all the love and spend time having a good time.

‘We’re doing a phone-in about broken hearts, I don’t know but if they could call in and help me out and give me advice.

She said later on in the show: ‘I want to fall in love again. I like that it’s what I was brought up to do. If i can’t, I’ll give lots of love.’

Vanessa added that she was ‘going out’ after the show.

She said: ‘Who knows, I might meet someone tonight! When it happens you’ll be the first to know.’

Honest: Vanessa was asked on This Morning if she had a feeling that Ben was being unfaithful or if it was a complete shock. She said: ‘Both, I think, terrible shock and a kind of gradual thing’

‘If anyone wants it from me I can dish it out but if you wanted to call in and tell me, i feel like I’m in the eye of the storm at the moment. 

‘I would be so grateful for the advice.’

Vanessa previously shared a video and said: ‘I am so glad to be living longer than my mum did, she died at 57 and for the Lord’s prayers, I am going to be 61 next month.

‘I am very very grateful to be alive and I want to carry on feeling that way and I want to celebrate and find fun and laughter anywhere I can.

‘I know it is not going to be easy but I am absolutely determined to do it.’

Alongside the video, Vanessa wrote: ‘I’ve missed you #brokenheart #onwardsandupwards #love #life #friends #family #thankyou.’

Ben has broken his silence by simply sharing a broken-heart emoji on social media. 

On the road: It’s been claimed Ben’s return to touring with Phats & Small (pictured) at holiday parks led to his alleged roaming eye (Ben pictured with bandmate Jason Phats, right, in 2008)