Max George revealed ‘mentally difficult’ time weeks before split and praised Katya for helping his ‘head feel better’
MAX George has revealed he was going through a "mentally difficult" time weeks before his split from Stacey Giggs.
The Wanted star credited Strictly Come Dancing and his professional dance partner Katya Jones for helping his "head feel better".
Singer Max, who suffers from depression, found himself spiralling into a black hole over the past two years.
Opening up about his secret mental health battle in January, the 33-year-old said returning to dance training with Katya for the Strictly tour had got him back on track.
A few weeks later, during the tour, Max and his long-term partner Stacey stopped following one another on Instagram.
Max says Strictly - and a mixture of counselling and medication - helped during his dark time.
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Speaking in January, Max told The Sun: “I’ve been in a lull in lockdown the last two years have been quite difficult mentally for me
“My fitness waned a lot but I’m getting fitter and fitter now.
“And I can feel that in my head. I’m feeling so much better now."
He added: “I’ve got a lot of ups rather than downs at the moment.
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“I’m feeling good.”
Last week The Sun revealed Max, 33, and football legend Ryan Giggs’ former missus, 38, have gone their separate ways.
The couple had not been seen together since December last year - and Max has now wiped his ex’s images from his social media.
It comes after Max said Stacey was “The One” shortly before he joined the BBC dance show in 2020.
Pals are “stunned” because he also once said the idea of breaking up with Stacey was “unthinkable”.
The couple first met at the V Festival in 2011 when boyband hunk Max was dating former Coronation Street star Michelle Keegan.
Stacey was wed to Man United winger Ryan, 48, with whom she has daughter Libby, 19, and son Zach, 15.
Max got together with Stacey in 2018 after being reintroduced by friends and moved into her £3.5million mansion.
Shortly after setting up home, former Preston North End youth footballer Max signed up to appear on Strictly.
He appeared with Aussie professional Dianne Buswell and joined this year’s tour partnering Katya, 32, after live dates were scrapped in 2021.
Speaking just before he agreed to take part in the show, he said of Stacey: “I just think we’re a good match.
“The age thing we don’t really think about it and it’s never been part of a discussion.
“We would love to add to the family at some point, that would be amazing.
“Obviously there are no guarantees but I’m sure we both feel the same way.”
He added: “I think Stacey’s The One.”
Max bravely revealed how he secretly battled depression after soaring to success with The Wanted.
He was sent for brain scans after being unable to leave the house without being sick.
But doctors couldn’t find anything wrong with him, physically.
Instead they explained he was suffering from depression and anxiety, which had shown physical symptoms like a locked jaw.
Max is currently on a huge UK tour with The Wanted in March.
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The boyband went on an indefinite hiatus in 2014 after five years and number of top 10 singles.
They reunited last year performing for the first time in seven years at a concert for bandmate Tom Parker who was diagnosed with a brain tumour.
