New Towie star AXED from next series over ‘inappropriate behaviour’ – before she even appears on screen
THE Only Way Is Essex have SACKED one of the show’s new cast members before she has even made it on TV screens.
Newcomer Pia Grace Smith shot scenes in the Dominican Republic for the ITVBe show’s new series but has now been axed by bosses for vaping on the plane home and breaking her contract.
Pia, who joined the show with fellow newbies and best pals Mia Sully and Hannah Voyan, left execs with no choice but to ditch her from the show - and she won’t ever be seen on screen
A source tells the The Sun: “Pia was openly vaping on the plane back from the Caribbean and bosses were stunned. They cannot tolerate that kind of behaviour, especially from a newcomer so early on. It was unacceptable and outrageous.
“Pia had only filmed a couple of scenes out in the Dominican so producers have decided not to air any of the scenes she shot out there with Mia and Hannah.
“It didn’t help that Pia’s behaviour while in the Caribbean wasn’t great either. She rubbed quite a few other cast members up the wrong way and said some things that were uncalled for.
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"Ultimately she just didn’t make a very good first impression all round, but when she vaped on the flight, that was the final straw.”
The Sun understands that Pia, who runs her own cosmetics business Plumped By Pia, was “devastated” to learn she’s been dropped.
Her pals Mia - who starred on ITVBe’s Absolutely Ascot - and Hannah will continue on the show without her.
“Pia has been in tears since bosses called her and told her her fate. She feels like she has blown a massive opportunity and really regrets her behaviour.
“Mia and Hannah were asked if they wanted to continue without her, as initially Mia only wanted to do the show if her two best friends were on board, and they have chosen to carry on.
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“Both Mia and Hannah were not happy about Pia’s actions and felt like she could have jeopardised all three of their spots on the show.”
A TOWIE spokesperson said: “A new contributor of The Only Way Is Essex who recently filmed scenes in the Dominican Republic, will no longer feature in the upcoming series due to a breach of contract.”
Nine stars from the long-running reality hit were hauled off a plane from the Dominican Republic to Spain earlier this month after refusing to comply with flight rules.
While Pia was vaping, the other eight cast members - four female and four male - refused to wear face masks and are facing £4,000 fines each from Spanish police.
The Air Europa pilot asked Civil Guard to remove them after landing in Madrid.
The group missed their UK flight home and The Spanish Aviation Safety and Security Agency (AESA) will decide the size of fines.
Pia discussed the incident on her instagram stories at the time, but didn’t mention the vaping.
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She said: “We got chucked off the flight because we didn’t wear masks. There was like half the cast that got chucked off but we’ve had to sit in Madrid airport for 10 hours.
"I’m not going to get back to UK soil until 11.30 so I won’t be home in my bed until 1am. This is nuts.”
![Pia [right] was due to join Towie with her pals Hannah and Mia](http://www.mcb777.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/msemail_Sun_Instagram_image_download_null_145419jpg-JS742126031.jpg?strip=all&w=702)