‘Five slip-ups in Kyle Walker’s interview that could cost his career’

Kyle Walker has finally come clean about his secret family in an explosive interview – and while he thought it might have been his best move, a PR expert thinks otherwise.

The Manchester City star, 33, publicly confessed that he is the father of Lauryn Goodman’s youngest child, almost six months on from the Instagram model giving birth to a daughter in August. The married man is also the father to the reality star’s son Kairo Walker, following a brief fling in 2019.

Celebrity reputational management expert Lauren Beeching, founder of Honest London, says Kyle made a number of mistakes with his tell-all chat with The Sun. “Kyle Walker’s recent admission of regret following the revelation of his actions is a necessary first step,” she told the Mirror. “However, it’s very clear that he appeared incredibly nervous during the interview, which could explain some of his word choices, like describing his actions as ‘idiot choices.'”

Lauren said she would have advised him for a written interview instead, “to avoid slips like this when his mind might not have been at its most composed.” She added: “While nervousness can significantly affect one’s choice of words, it’s crucial for him to convey the depth of his remorse more effectively.”

His wife Annie Kilner, 30, kicked him out of their Cheshire home and announced their split on social media earlier this month. Kyle admitted his bitter regrets over his ‘idiot decisions’ when it came to a ‘certain someone’ as he described his lover – resulting in backlash from Lauryn.

He furiously denies her claims that they had an emotional relationship while conceiving two children together and that the model had him “trapped in a corner” after falling pregnant with his child for a second time towards the end of 2022. Kyle admitted he was friends with the mum-of-two for over a decade before their relationship turned intimate but remains defiant about there being “no relationship” – with her having no clue as to how he has her coffee while they’ve never been on dates.

However Lauryn hit back with a savage social media post and sensationally revealed the Yorkshire lad’s usual coffee order, alongside implying the right-back is a pathological narcissist. His petty comments were another mistake by the footballer, according to the PR guru, who criticised his attempt to look like a ‘victim’ amidst the turmoil whilst it became evident he should have previously spoken with Lauryn before the chat about how he was going to describe their connection.

“It’s important to consider Lauryn’s response following the interview,” Lauren began. “This situation could risk becoming overly sensationalised, diverting attention from where Walker should be focusing – his family and career. It’s essential for both parties involved to handle the situation with care and discretion, prioritising privacy, and well-being.

“It’s also important to acknowledge that some viewers perceive his interview as playing the victim card. This highlights the need for a more thoughtful approach moving forward.”

His spiral of claims could also have an impact on his professional career, Lauren argues, as fans could lose respect for the star. “As the captain of Manchester City, Walker’s actions and how he handles this situation could influence fans’ support and players’ respect,” she said.

“If fans feel that he is insincere or that his off-field behaviour is affecting his on-field performance, it could lead to a loss of support. Even if he continues to play great, fans might not simply approve of his actions off the field and stop supporting him. Similarly, his teammates may question his leadership skills if they perceive a lack of responsibility off the pitch.”

In the interview, Kyle revealed he ‘nearly fainted’ when Lauryn told him about the second pregnancy. The father, whose wife Annie is pregnant with their fourth child together, apologised to his “soulmate and best friend” and said he was taking “full responsibility” for betraying her.

As a very public figure going through a very personal matter, Lauren believes Kyle should have acted more carefully so as not to turn his family affairs into a discussion up for debate. “Due to Walker’s status and the way it has been handled, it’s inevitably become a topic of attention, especially with other public figures being directly involved,” the expert continued.

“Moving forward, it remains crucial for Walker to focus on his family, his football career, the steps needed for personal growth, and an honest and open apology.” Announcing she was taking time away from the father of her children, Annie announced to her Instagram followers: “I am posting this in response to growing recent media enquiries about my marriage to Kyle and in an effort to protect my family against the intensity of the media spotlight.

“Sadly, after many years of marriage and three wonderful children together; I have decided to take some time away from Kyle.” The expectant mother, who first met Kyle in their hometown of Sheffield when she was 15 and he 17, concluded her online statement with: “I do not wish to comment on the position any further. For now, I ask that the privacy of myself and our three young children be respected during this difficult time.”