Ralf Schumacher slams 'liar' ex-wife and leaks messages in coming out as gay row (original) (raw)

Ralf Schumacher slams 'liar' ex-wife and leaks messages to claim she knew he was gay

Ex-Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher is engaged in a mud-slinging match on social media with his ex-wife Cora after she reacted badly to him coming out as gay

Ralf Schumacher is embroiled in a bitter row with his ex-wife Cora

Ralf Schumacher has gone to war with his ex-wife after she accused him of blindsiding her by coming out as gay.

Ex-Formula 1 driver Schumacher, the brother of Michael Schumacher, came out aged 49 in an emotional post on social media in July which explained he is in a relationship with his business manager Etienne. He has received a wave of support from the F1 community, but his news was not warmly received by Cora Schmacher, who was married to him from 2001 until their divorce in 2015.

Cora shares a son, David, with Schumacher and said that he went public with the news before even speaking to her about it. She slammed his actions in an emotional interview with Der Spiegel, claiming she didn’t know he was gay until seeing the post on social media.

"How should I deal with the fact that Ralf didn't talk to me before he came out and said, for example: 'Be careful, Cora. I'm sorry' or 'I didn't know how to tell you' or 'I really loved you’. Nothing,” she said.

“That was such a stab in the heart for me. Because a coming out always affects those around you, including the ex-wife with whom you have a child. And yes, I wish Ralf had included me or at least told me about it. I would have seen that as a sign of respect. Instead, I found out about his coming out from the media. I feel used. Robbed of my best years. Was he honest with me? And most importantly: did he even love me?"

Schumacher has now hit back by posting a screenshot of a WhatsApp conversation which appears to show that Cora was aware he was gay. The exchange from late 2023 seemingly shows Cora congratulating Etienne on his relationship with Ralf.

Ralf Schumacher has leaked the conversation between Etienne and Cora (

Image:

ralfschumacher_rsc/Instagram)

Ralf Schumacher and his partner Etienne (

Image:

ralfschumacher_rsc/Instagram)

He posted the image on his Instagram account with the caption: "With all the back and forth, I would like to make it clear that Cora congratulated us in September 2023 because she thought we had gotten married. I think it's a shame for Etienne and me that she spreads so many lies. We both just want to be left in peace."

Cora then branded the German sportsman's move "pathetic". In her own post, she wrote: "How pathetic does a person have to be to publish private WhatsApp messages to conceal the truth?" Cora also said he’d only introduced Etienne only as a business associate, not as his boyfriend, adding: "The WhatsApp was my last attempt to at least find out the truth from him."

Cora, 47, has modelled for Playboy and GQ and appeared on Let's Dance, the German version of Strictly Come Dancing. She is now a television presenter and actor while Schumacher is a regular TV pundit for Sky Sports on F1.