Michelle Keegan has received a public message of support from her mother-in-law Carol Wright — but the moment quickly sparked raised eyebrows among fans after reports of simmering tension between the pair.
The actress, 38, shared a series of photos on Instagram after attending a talk with Sky TV to celebrate International Women’s Day 2026, as well as visiting a London recording studio.
Posting the images while dressed in a stylish denim outfit, Michelle wrote that it had been an honour to speak at the event. She said it was an honour to be asked to talk at Sky TV headquarters to celebrate the importance of International Women’s Day 2026 alongside Sophy Ridge.
Among those commenting was Carol Wright, 65, the mother of Michelle’s husband Mark Wright, who simply wrote “well done” beneath the post.
However, the interaction did not go unnoticed by fans — many of whom described the message as “ironic” given the controversy that has recently surrounded Carol and her daughters.
The family had faced backlash following comments made on their podcast Wright At Home, where they discussed thong bikinis in a way many listeners labelled degrading and disrespectful.
During the podcast discussion, Jessica Wright admitted that her husband dislikes thong bikinis, while Carol claimed her own husband finds them unattractive. She said she believes the look is not sexy for men to look at.
The debate escalated further when Carol recalled seeing three women wearing thong bikinis during a walk with her husband on holiday. She said that although the women had different body shapes, they all had their backsides fully on show, adding that her husband commented it didn’t even look sexy.
The remarks quickly caused outrage online, particularly as friends suggested the comments may have been a thinly veiled dig at Michelle.
The actress runs her own swimwear line, Orfila Bee, and frequently shares bikini photos on social media to promote the brand.
One insider told The Sun that the tension between the women has been simmering quietly for some time. The source said Carol is the textbook mother-in-law from hell, describing her as someone completely obsessed with her sons and a stereotypical possessive boy mum.
The source added that the tension between Carol and Michelle is subtle but noticeable. Carol may think she is making small digs, but Michelle sees straight through them and keeps note of everything.
It is also understood that Mark Wright has previously asked his mother to be more careful with her remarks about his wife. According to the source, Mark is completely devoted to Michelle and her happiness comes first. He would not allow anyone — even his own mother — to upset her and has reportedly told Carol she needs to stop.
The controversy emerged at an unfortunate time for the couple, as Michelle and Mark were reportedly celebrating their daughter Palma’s first birthday in March.
Sources claim the drama overshadowed the celebration, with many people discussing the podcast comments instead of the family milestone.
Meanwhile, the clip from the podcast has since been removed from social media channels, although it has continued circulating widely on TikTok.
Carol later issued an apology for the remarks, but the debate has continued online — with some critics pointing out that Jessica Wright herself had previously worn revealing bikinis during her time on The Only Way Is Essex.
