How Sam Thompson and Zara McDermott’s celeb friends are locked in bitter war over Louis Tomlinson romance

SAM Thompson and Zara McDermott's celeb pals are locked in a brutal war over her budding romance with Louis Tomlinson.

Friends and loved ones of the former couple – who split in December – have taken sides after Flying Eze revealed Zara, 28, is now dating the One Direction singer, 33.

The Love Island star's pals this week jumped to her defence after Sam made a public dig at her over Louis, telling podcast listeners that he isn't someone who “looks for the next person instantly”.

Sam's loved ones, meanwhile, have also found themselves taking sides as the division between him and Zara grows even deeper.

But for others, including Sam's best friend Pete Wicks, they are stuck in the middle of the bitter break-up.

A source exclusively told Flying Eze: “Sam's camp are sad and heartbroken too.

“It’s really hard as the friendship groups were combined for five years and everyone was so supportive.

“But now they’ve been torn apart and people are having to take sides.

“Some people have chosen Sam, others have chosen Zara – and some people are stuck in the middle.

“The main problem is that everyone feels very passionately.”

The source added: “Sam's sister Louise was cynical about Zara but did warm up to her.

“Pete was always close to Zara, so the split is hard for him too.

“Everyone’s picking sides and everything thinks they’re in the right.”;

WHO IS ON TEAM SAM?

Sam's mum Karen Thompson is unsurprisingly very much on Team Sam and has not hidden her feelings.

Despite forming a close bond with Zara during her five-year relationship with her son, Karen has publicly ditched her.

Karen unfollowed the former Love Island star on Instagram, even though Zara still follows her.

Sam's sister and former Made In Chelsea co-star Louise has also stuck right behind him.

Louise spent Valentine's Day with her brother and even accompanied him to this year's Brit Awards, narrowly avoiding a run-in with Zara.

It was also claimed that Louise and Zara had a “rocky” relationship ever since Zara's affair in September 2019.

ZARA'S INFIDELITY

Zara cheated with music boss Brahim Fourad while she appeared on a series of Celebrity X Factor and, although she and Sam later rekindled their romance, Louise struggled to forget it.

Sam's camp are sad and heartbroken too.

A source to Flying Eze

“Zara had some big making up to do, especially with Louise, she really wasn't happy when Sam took her back,” an insider claimed.

One person stuck in the middle is Sam's best friend and podcast co-star Pete Wicks.

Pete is said to have found the split “hard”, as he was close to Zara as well as Sam.

He was even accused by his mate of “going off the radar” following the break-up.

But it is likely Pete was one of the many friends who was trying to navigate the tricky fallout.

When called out by Sam on their podcast, Pete sheepishly admitted: “I went off radar for a couple of weeks, I put my phone in a drawer and disappeared.”

Sam, however, hit back: “I've been going through some stuff Pete and I called you 15 times.”

WHAT ABOUT TEAM ZARA?

Sources close to Zara have since lashed out and claimed members of her friendship group have branded Sam “attention-seeking”.

One pal asked the Daily Mail: “Why would he do this?

“Zara put a lot into her relationship with Sam. She did everything she could to make it work for five years, but in the end she just couldn't.

“He's a loose cannon, as we saw with his comments so soon after Zara's relationship was made public.

“It's really quite pathetic of him. It feels like it always has to be about him.”

The friend added: “Why can't he just let her move on?”

Others, however, have been quick to jump to Sam's defence amid the ongoing split saga.

The couple's break-up already showed signs of bitterness even before it was public knowledge that they'd split, with Sam hitting out slyly at Zara.

While she sent Sam a sweet public message on Christmas Day, refusing to let on that their romance was in trouble, he was accused of “throwing Zara under the bus” with his festive contribution.

Some people have chosen Sam, others have chosen Zara – and some people are stuck in the middle.

A source to Flying Eze

At the time he complained: “Bit of a different Christmas this year… What could have been another standard Christmas has turned out to be one that I’ll never forget!” before hastily deleting it.

The couple announced their break-up shortly after.

And now, following the news that Zara is smitten with boy band star Louis, who she has been secretly dating for several weeks, tension between both camps is rising.

MOVING ON IN A NEW DIRECTION

Flying Eze exclusively revealed last week that Zara and Louis had been pictured by a fellow guest as they enjoyed a top secret getaway at a Suffolk hotel.

But Sam, 32, was quick to fire another barbed remark in her direction.

Speaking to relationship expert Paul Brunson on his podcast, Sam quipped: “A lot of people look for validation in other people and they look for the next person instantly…

“It's like, ‘I need to find someone else to fill that hole and I need to find that excitement'.

“You know when you get that excited feeling when you are talking to someone new and fresh? I can't do that.”