Kerry Katona On Bankruptcy: 'I'm Not After Sympathy'
'I'm Not After Sympathy'
Ashley Percival— The Huffington Post UK
Kerry Katona made a defiant appearance on 'This Morning' on Thursday to talk about her bankruptcy, where she insisted that she was not asking for sympathy.
The Atomic Kitten singer was declared bankrupt for the second time earlier this month, and told hosts Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford that she did everything possible to avoid it.
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Kerry appeared on 'This Morning' on Thursday
"I'm not after sympathy... it's not an easy option going into bankruptcy," she said.
"The first time bankruptcy I had, I got made bankrupt and everyone is very well aware of my past and I was out of control and things got out of hand. But I paid nearly half a million pound back and when I had the option to do 'Big Brother', I thought I want to do the right thing and I gave to the trustees to pay it off..."
"The first time I was bankrupt, I wasn't very well, my money was being controlled. I had no involvement over my financial situation back then and I'm not blaming anyone else, I blame myself for not being strong enough that time."
She added, "I knew this second bankruptcy was approaching and I did not want this to happen, I wanted to pay it back - I took on any job I could do for me and my kids, I tried my very best to pay it back."
Kerry appeared with her fiancé George Kay, whom she credited for making her feel the happiest she ever has in her life.
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Kerry and fiancé George Kay
"I've never felt so more secure and I have no insecurities with George. I feel protected," she said
"He's a great step dad, he can be too overprotective sometimes! He always says you've never had anyone in your life that has actually cared about you and sometimes I'm not used to that and say 'I'm fine, I can do this on my own', and he's like 'you can't do this on your own, that's what I'm hear for' and to share your problems..."
She added: "What I've learnt in life is that I feel very grateful, very blessed and that money isn't everything. I've not got much money, but I've got love, I've got happiness, I've got my health, and as far as I'm concerned I feel like the richest person in the world because of that."
Despite her fortune for her Atomic Kitten days and various relaity TV appearances, Kerry was officially made broke in 2008 when she failed to cough up the final £82,000 of a £417,000 tax bill. A turn as a housemate on 'Celebrity Big Brother' helped her to finally pay off her debts. (credit:Getty Images)
Shane Filan(02 of11)
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The Westlife star and property investor was made bankrupt in June 2012 when the housing market crashed, and left him owing more than €5.5m (£4.45m) to Ulster Bank and Bank of Ireland. (credit:Getty Images)
Martine McCutcheon(03 of11)
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Martine filed for bankruptcy in in 2013, when she amassed debts of £187,000. (credit:Getty Images)
Stephen Baldwin(04 of11)
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When Stephen defaulted on a mortgage payment in 2009, he filed for bankcruptcy claiming he was $2.3m in debt. (credit:Getty Images)
Joe Swash(05 of11)
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The former 'EastEnders' star was made bankrupt by London's High Court in 2009 after he failed to pay a £20,000 tax bill. (credit:Getty Images)
Peter Stringfellow(06 of11)
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Peter lost a reported $20m in 1992 after a failed attempt to crack America. (credit:Getty Images)
Christopher Biggins(07 of11)
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Biggins reckons that going into voluntary bankruptcy 15 years ago was the 'best thing that ever happened' to him. The star was forced into it after work offers slowed down. (credit:Getty Images)
Mike Tyson(08 of11)
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The boxer owed both the US and British governments $17m in taxes, $750,000 to law firms and $300,000 to limo services and became bankrupt in 2004. (credit:Getty Images)
Donald Trump(09 of11)
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He may be a multi-billionaire, but Donald Trump has filed for corporate bankruptcy four times! However, he has never filed for personal bankruptcy. (credit:Getty Images)
Neil Morrissey (10 of11)
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Neil entered into an individual voluntary arrangement (IVA) after a property scheme in which he invested collapsed, leaving him millions of pounds in debt. (credit:Getty Images)
MC Hammer(11 of11)
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One hit wonder MC Hammer's living beyond his means meant he was $13m in debt and filed for bankruptcy in 1996. (credit:Getty Images)