News that celebrity personal trainer Michelle Bridges had been charged with drink driving on Australia Day, with her four-year-old son in the back seat seemed uncharacteristic for the highly disciplined businesswoman and devoted mother.
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A statement issued on Tuesday, and seen by the Daily Telegraph, revealed that the former Biggest Loser trainer has been going through a “very difficult time” following her split from her partner of seven years, Steve “Commando” Willis, with whom she shares her son, Axel, four.
A repentant Bridges, 49, released a statement to the court admitting she was ashamed. “
I would like to express my deep regret for breaking the law, this was a terrible mistake and an error of judgment,” she said.
“This behaviour is inexcusable, and I am absolutely devastated and embarrassed to find myself in this position. It has been a very difficult time for me the last few weeks dealing with the break-up of my long-term relationship. This is by no means an excuse for my behaviour, but I feel the emotional turmoil I have been going through has impacted my decision making. I am extremely sorry for my actions.”
Bridges was pulled over in a 4WD in Sydney’s eastern suburbs around 11.25am and taken to Waverley Police Station where she allegedly returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.086, making it a mid-range offence. She is due to appear in Waverley Local Court on February 18.
Bridges and Willis, 43, met as trainers on the weight-loss reality show in 2007 when they were both in relationships. They began dating six years later when both had separated from their partners.
“It’s not something that I want to continually talk about, but we have a fantastic relationship and she is extremely special to me,” Willis, who told WHO in 2013.
“I find everything about her sexy, from the physical aspect through to the mental aspect, and the way in which we communicate with each other.”
Just last week, Willis spoke to WHO about overcoming his long-term battle with depression and paid tribute to Bridges for supporting him in his training for a charity bike ride. He gave no indication that they had already split.
The former marine has three kids—Brianna, Ella and Jack— from his previous relationship while Axel is Bridge’s only child. Announcing their pregnancy to WHO in July 2015, Bridges was brimming with love.
“Becoming a mother was never something that I was fixated on,” she shared. “It had to feel right and with the twists and turns of my life, now is the right time. Now is the perfect time, actually. Steve and I are in love with each other. Who wouldn’t want to have a child with someone they love?”
Marriage however, they said at the time, was never a priority.
“One thing at a time,” insisted Willis. “I’d like a farm before anything else. Have all the kids there, some animals. That’s our dream.”
As they each buckled down to build their health and fitness empires, reports surfaced that the high-profile couple were leading increasingly separate lives.
“We’re just like any other family who have full-time jobs and children; we’re not special!” Bridges said in March 2019. “We didn’t plan to be so busy but that’s often the way it is – you have to figure it out as you go.”
Three months later, she admitted during WHO’s Raw Talks podcast that constant rumours of trouble in her relationship had taken their toll. “Sometimes I don’t deal with it well,” she said. “Sometimes it really, really hurts me.”
Snapped by photographers after the news of her drink driving charge broke, Bridges was in tears as she peered out of a window in Sydney. “She looked really upset,” said an onlooker. ‘The poor lady was struggling to get her composure.”
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