Stacey Solomon finding backlash over smoking pictures 'difficult’ and 'she uses it as release’

Stacey Solomon is reportedly finding the backlash to tabloids publishing photos of her smoking "difficult." The BBC Sort Your Life Out star and ITV Loose Women panellist has found the backlash to the snaps of her puffing on a cig tough to navigate.

A source told New! Magazine: “Stacey is a sensitive person and she will be upset if anyone is thinking of her in a negative way.” The insider went on: “She’s had a lot of stick in the past about smoking and she finds it difficult. The comments can be hurtful.”

Stacey was pictured smoking in a puffer coat while taking a break from filming. One social media user fumed aat the time, in the wake of the snaps emerging: “Surprised that she smokes – she is health-conscious and environmentally friendly online.”

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Another added: “What a foul habit.” The insider went on, telling New magazine: “It’s just something she’s using as a release. Stacey is only human at the end of the day. She’s not doing anything wrong and is using it as a vice to de-stress.

"But she’ll be worried about what people think of her.” In 2012, Stacey had previously opened up about being unable to ditch the habit whilst pregnant. She said on This Morning at the time: “At the end of the day, nothing that I can say makes it right.

"All I can say is that from the day I found out that I was pregnant, I have tried my best to give up. I completely understand why people would be angry, because for some people it’s incomprehensible. As soon as you get pregnant, you think you need so stop. I did smoke between five and 10 a day, but I completely cut down and from there on I have been trying to stop.

“I’m smoking between one and three a day, if that… I just thought I would be able to quit. And some days I’ve done really, really well and had none but there are some days when I have had some. I’m doing my best to just go without, but sometimes it’s not just as easy to cut it out.”