CHARLES Saatchi has claimed he knew ex-wife Nigella Lawson was taking drugs.
The art mogul, 70, accused TV chef Nigella of secretly taking illegal
substances during the final years of their relationship.
And he also claims she involved her daughter in her drug-taking.
Saatchi, who was divorced from Nigella in November last year, said: “The truth
is that she was taking illegal drugs secretly throughout the last few years
of our marriage, often with her own child when she was far too young to even
smoke or drink.”
He also claimed it “took place at an alarmingly frequent rate”.
Saatchi added: “That this practice seems to be considered acceptable behaviour
in sections of the Press is deeply disturbing, as is the notion that you can
teach your children that drugs are a justifiable way to make ‘an unbearable
situation bearable’.”
His comments – made in a statement to the Daily Mail – follow Nigella’s claim
she took cannabis to “deal with a summer of abuse”.
Nigella – who is back on our TV screens with The Taste – had also revealed she
took cocaine on six occasions to deal with her late husband’s terminal
cancer and moments of Saatchi’s “intimate terrorism”.
Saatchi’s fresh statements appear to contradict what he said during the trial
of the Grillo sisters, who have been cleared of fraud.
During a hearing at Isleworth Crown Court, he said: “I have never, never seen
any evidence of Nigella taking any drugs whatsoever. I want to be helpful
but I genuinely have no real knowledge at all.”
Saatchi told the paper he was speaking out because he had “no alternative” and
wanted to clear up Nigella’s “inaccurate allegations”.
He said: “I no longer feel the need to cover up for her anymore.”
A friend said Saatchi’s outburst was caused by her treatment of him during the
trial.
The pal said: “He’s angry that he went into court first and spoke up for her,
but when it was her turn to give evidence she gave him a monstering.
“Charlie also cannot forgive Nigella for not speaking out on his behalf over
the choking business. She let him hang.”
Nigella categorically denies the claims.