Ferne McCann seen for first time since acid attack voice note apology as she grins with pal
FERNE McCann stepped out today for the first time after issuing a grovelling apology to acid attack victim Sophie Hall for calling her ugly.
The ITV star, 32, could be seen grinning as she chatted to her pal, self-care expert Michelle Ashby.
Keeping a low profile, Ferne wore her cap pulled over her face and dressed down in leggings and a hooded top.
Her appearance comes just hours after she confirmed to The Sun that she made the remarks heard in audio messages released last week — but insisted she acted out of fear.
She apologised to all the victims of Arthur Collins — her ex-boyfriend and father of her daughter — who is serving 20 years for an attack at a nightclub in London in April 2017.
Sophie, one of 22 people injured, was scarred for life.
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Ex-Towie star Ferne said: “In particular I want to apologise to Sophie Hall. I do not believe her to be ugly or stupid. She has been brave beyond belief.”
The scandal erupted last week when the messages appeared on an Instagram account.
In the voice notes, a woman is heard mocking Sophie before adding: “She is one ugly f***ing c***.”
It led to Sophie, now 27, to call for ITV to sack Ferne from her ITVBE reality show, First Time Mum.
This week the star gave her first full statement on the affair, saying she did not believe what she had said about Sophie and pinning the blame on Collins.
She said: “I am aware that people will have a number of questions about the voice messages being put into the public domain and purportedly sent by me.
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“I feel I have no choice but to address these — to the extent that I can as there are restrictions on me.
“Most importantly I want to apologise to all the victims of Arthur Collins’ abhorrent actions in 2017 that they have to relive that night and the pain that followed because this matter is again in the public domain.”
She added: “What I can say is that the voice messages that are being released are manipulated; edited and taken entirely out of context.
“Even so, I will have said things that are untrue and I did not believe – but I did so to protect my family and myself from serious harm and in the face of significant threats.”
