Lisa Armstrong's 'emotional messages' to ex Ant McPartlin - 'She's still hurting'
Lisa Armstrong isn't a stranger to posting cryptic messages online but perhaps her most recent one, following the birth of her ex husband Ant McPartlin's son, is one that really speaks volumes.
Just last month, Lisa shared a video with the caption: "What is meant for you will find its way to you," then an hour later, shared another which said: "Don't ever let anyone dim your light." When Britain's Got Talent presenter Ant and his wife Anne-Marie Corbett, 46, welcomed their son Wilder Patrick McPartlin last week, their post appeared to really grab attention.
The couple, who wed in 2021 - just three years after his split from wife of 11 years Lisa - took to Instagram to share the news, posting an adorable black and white snap of Ant, 48, cradling the newborn. They said: "Welcome to the family. Wilder Patrick Mcpartlin. Born, 14/05/24 at 8.54am. Baby is beautiful, Mummy's a legend, Sisters are over the moon. Dad's a mess."
The day of the announcement, Lisa posted a poignant message to her 170k followers that read: "Be proud of how you have been handling these past few months. The silent battles you've fought, the moments you've had to humble yourself, the times you've wiped your own tears. Celebrate your strength."
Although the post was rather cryptic, a source has revealed that Lisa wanted to send a message that, despite being separated for six years, she's only human and it's natural a milestone like this would be emotional.
“Lisa knew all the attention would be on her after the announcement and it’s not a coincidence that she put something like that up on Instagram," they said.
"Lisa puts emotional quotes up all the time so that wasn’t strange but she has a voice and wants to use it when she needs to. She still wants people to know that she is hurt by everything and that seeing her ex-husband, who she was with for over 20 years, marry and have a baby is hard to deal with."
Lisa and Ant ended their marriage six years ago after being together for over two decades. Their split followed shortly after Ant faced personal struggles, including issues with alcohol and prescription drugs and a highly publicised drink-driving conviction in 2018. After separating from Lisa, Ant then began a relationship with Anne-Marie, tying the knot with her in 2021.
And since her world came crashing down, it’s been no secret that Lisa - who is head of make-up and hair on Strictly Come Dancing - has faced some tough times, including a fire at her home and another heartbreak when she split from boyfriend James Green. But in the lead up to the newborn's arrival, Lisa appeared to send an olive branch to Ant.
During the final episode of Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, she showed a rare glimpse of public support. The former popstar liked a post that hailed Ant and Dec as 'simply the best' in celebration of their impressive TV journey.
Now as Ant settles into fatherhood - although Lisa likely always knew this day would come - it is still reportedly emotional for her to see him marking such a huge chapter.
"Lisa wants to move on but it seems she can’t help herself at times," the source continued. "These posts are her way of showing that it’s still difficult for her and she wants Ant to know that. She doesn’t want to ruin his happiness but sometimes she feels things need to be handled more sensitively.”
When Ant announced the arrival of Wilder, he posted a touching picture of his tattoo that looks to be a tribute to his family. In the image, Ant's tattoo shows a huge blossoming tree with the names - Amzie (presumably for his wife of three years Anne-Marie), his two step daughters, Daisy and Poppy, and Ant's two pooches - Milo and Bumble.
The birth of his son also came one day after the fifth anniversary of Lisa's dad passing, and she shared the inscription on his gravestone read: "In loving memory of Dot Armstrong tragically taken on 29.6.1992 and Derek John Armstrong 12.4.1948 - 13.5.2019. Sadly missed husband, dad and grampy. Forever in our hearts."
But it appears some of Lisa's cryptic posts online often hold an emotional message - and it's all down to indirect communication with Ant.
"Lisa's cryptic social media posts may reflect unresolved heartache, allowing her to express emotions without direct confrontation," according to Dr Sona Kaur, a specialist clinical psychologist and founder of Serenity Psychological Services.
Tina Wilson, relationship expert and founder of Wingman, also agrees that Lisa's ambiguous messages could be a "roundabout way" of wanting to address something that's bothering her.
"Cryptic posts, whether they may or not seem obvious to an onlooker, can be down to unresolved sadness and anger. Those can be key triggers for cryptic posts, and it’s hard to know exactly what they mean, but at the very least it is confirmation that she is unhappy.
"As Ant is in a bubble of happiness, it's likely to sting for Lisa and her post is a reminder that she is still hurting.
"But with support from her friends and family hopefully she will be able to draw a line and move forward in a positive way. Social media can be a nice outlet for support but also dangerous with onlookers adding fuel to a burnt-out fire."
Though Lisa has weathered some storms recently, it now seems she is ready for a new beginning. In fact, it looks like she's even put the property she once shared with Ant on the market, after she was handed the keys as part of their divorce settlement.
The house was listed on Rightmove last week and included 27 images that show off the luxurious living quarters, including an 80ft south facing rear garden - with a "self-contained garden studio" - as well as a gym room and "games/cinema room/bar area", according to the listing.
Lisa, however, now lives in a new home that isn't too far from the one that she shared with Ant. She calls it her "happy place".
