THEY’VE been one of the most sickly-sweet couples in showbiz, with a constant stream of nauseatingly loved-up social media pics.
But after three years, pop beauty Nicole Scherzinger and rugby hunk Thom Evans’s romance appears to have hit the skids — after he was seen tearfully pouring out his heart to pals in a West London restaurant on Thursday, saying he is moving back to the UK alone.
The 37-year-old retired Scotland international was seen looking emotional as he told friends he is staying with a mate, after giving up his own flat to travel the world with Nicole, 44.
The pair attracted particular ire from fans for their public displays of affection and for sharing images that showed them enjoying themselves in a string of exotic and luxurious places, while much of the world was locked down by Covid restrictions.
A source said: “Thom looked distraught. He was saying things have gone wrong lately and now he’s back in the UK for the foreseeable, while Nicole lives full-time in Los Angeles.
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“They’ve had the most amazing relationship, and they’ve plastered it all over the internet for all to see.
“If anything, a lot of people thought they were pretty smug about it, to be honest, so there might be a bit of humble pie here if things are over for good.”
The couple were last seen together in loved-up Instagram photographs posted on New Year’s Eve, with each uploading romantic snaps from a swanky black-tie party.
And they had regularly posted videos of their joint workout sessions.
But earlier this week Nicole put out a cryptic message with the caption: “Fresh start, new beginnings.”
She added: “The moment of surrender is not when life is over, it’s when it begins.”
A friend of the couple said they still hoped there might be a future, despite Thom’s outburst, adding last night: “They had an upcoming holiday planned together.
“Everyone has ups and downs but who knows what will happen long-term? It isn’t unusual for them to have time apart, but it sounds like there are deeper issues at the moment.”
Thom previously dated model Kelly Brook, splitting in 2013 in a decision they said was mutual.
Former Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole enjoyed a high-profile relationship with Formula One ace Lewis Hamilton from 2007 to 2015 and dated Bulgarian tennis player Grigor Dimitrov from 2016 to 2019.
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She met Thom in 2019, when she was a judge on The X Factor: Celebrity, and he appeared in the singing rugby trio Try Star, with pals Ben Foden and Levi Davis — who is now missing in Spain.
In an interview last year Thom gushed about his and Nicole’s similarities, saying: “I’m so lucky that we’re so similar in many ways and it’s so great having a partner whose happiness and drive comes from running.
"Getting up and going for runs together and sharing that moment is such a special thing.
“A perfect day for us is getting up about 6.30 in the morning and driving down to do this trail in Los Angeles called The Lost Leons.
“Just being there with no one around and the sun coming up, it feels like you’re on top of the world. We always then go for a big feed after it, and that for us is the perfect Saturday morning.”
And Nicole added: “I’ve definitely been through my fair share of insecurities that I’ve fought through and battled, and I’ve gone through challenges and relationships — and what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
“Now I have a new perspective and things balance out. And I’m really grateful to build a healthy, strong, solid foundation to my relationship.”
Last night both Nicole and Thom declined to comment.
