Tinsley Mortimer’s friends flare with rage after fiancé Scott Kluth left her after forcing her to choose between him and his TV show.
Internal sources say the Coupon Cabin founder claimed he did not like the media attention that came with his work on “The Real Housewives of New York” – and he gave her an ultimatum in late 2019 saying that if she gave up on the program, he would marry yours.
Mortimer agreed and moved to his hometown of Chicago – just, we were told, for Kluth to casually say goodbye to her last week, without giving a reason.
“He tortured her. For years he would break up with her and get back together with her and break up with her again, ”said one of Mortimer’s friends. “But when he proposed, she believed he meant it. She left her career, she left her livelihood, she left her home, and suddenly he went back to his old tricks and canceled the engagement. “
The friend added: “He is afraid to commit. He never had the courage to keep his promise to marry her. And he used his celebrity to promote his coupon company. “
Kluth said they left the socialite who became a reality star after a fight last Friday.
Meanwhile, the source said he had sent a statement to People magazine, giving Mortimer almost no warning that the celebrity weekly would announce his separation.
“So the guy who hates the press runs to People magazine,” sniffed his friend.
Kluth said in the statement: “After 14 months of engagement, Tinsley and I ended our relationship and have lived independently for the past few months.”
But the source told us, “She didn’t want that.” They also said that the idea that they lived apart was misleading, because the two had traveled for a long time. They said Mortimer was “caught off guard” by the sudden split.
We were told that “Mortimer’s head is still spinning” and she still doesn’t know if she will return to New York.
A spokesman for Kluth said in a statement: “It is disappointing that, during this emotional period for both of them, Tinsley is misrepresenting the circumstances of the separation, which happened months ago. As Scott has said, he only wishes the best for Tinsley and is looking to recover emotionally and move on. “
Kluth proposed in November 2019 in an elaborate show involving drones and a choir. They suspended their wedding plans because of the pandemic.
She was previously married to Topper Mortimer from 2002 to 2010.