Mark Wright publicly celebrated the two most important women in his life on Mother’s Day, sharing a heartfelt tribute to both his mother Carol Wright and his wife Michelle Keegan amid growing rumours of friction within the family.
The former The Only Way Is Essex star, 39, took to social media on Sunday to post a loving message alongside a throwback holiday photo of the trio together. In the caption, Mark praised both women for their roles in his life and appeared to subtly push back against speculation that tensions have been brewing between them.
He wrote that he wanted to wish “the best Mum and Wife I could ever imagine” a happy Mother’s Day, before thanking Michelle for being an incredible parent to their young daughter. Mark added that she is doing “the most amazing job” raising their “little princess” and said their family loves her dearly.
The reality star also used the moment to pay tribute to his mother Carol, thanking her for raising him and his siblings and for being a devoted grandmother.
He wrote that she had been “the best Mum to all eight of us and the best Nannie to all our babies,” adding that the entire family feels lucky to have her.
Mark’s affectionate post comes at a time when rumours have been circulating about a possible rift between Michelle and Carol, following backlash over controversial comments made on the Wright family podcast.
Carol, 65, recently faced criticism online after discussing thong bikinis during an episode of Wright At Home, the podcast she hosts with daughters Jess and Natalya.
During the discussion, Jess admitted that she dislikes seeing people wear thong bikinis on the beach, saying she cannot stand how it has become acceptable. Natalya chimed in to add that women who wear them should at least cover up when bending over or adjusting their towels.
Carol then shared her own opinion, claiming she does not think the look is attractive to men. She even recalled a holiday stroll with her husband Mark Sr, saying they had seen three women walking ahead of them with their “whole a***s out,” and that her husband remarked that it “doesn’t even look sexy.”
The conversation quickly sparked backlash online, with critics calling the remarks degrading and disrespectful. The clip was soon removed from the podcast’s social media accounts after listeners voiced outrage.
However, the controversy intensified when some fans speculated that the comments may have been a subtle dig at Michelle, who runs her own swimwear brand Orfila Bee and frequently posts bikini photos on Instagram.
According to sources quoted in reports, Mark and Michelle were said to feel “mortified and embarrassed” by the podcast discussion.
One insider claimed Carol’s remarks had only heightened the underlying tension between her and Michelle, suggesting the situation reflected a classic difficult mother-in-law dynamic.
The source alleged that Carol can come across as a stereotypical possessive “boy mum,” adding that while her comments may appear subtle, Michelle is fully aware of the implied criticism.
Despite the speculation, Carol recently dismissed claims that she is a “mother-in-law from hell” and insisted there is no bad blood between her and Michelle.
Nevertheless, the resurfaced podcast clip has continued to circulate on TikTok, where users have criticised the discussion and accused the family of double standards.
Some viewers pointed out that Jess herself previously wore similar revealing swimwear during her time on The Only Way Is Essex, sharing old photos and joking that the debate was a case of “pot calling the kettle black.”
For now, Mark’s public tribute appears to signal unity within the family — at least from his perspective — as he celebrated both his wife and mother on a day dedicated to the women who shaped his life.
