Paolo Margaglione Breaks Down Online Abuse at Kerry Katona's Birthday

Oct, 22 2025

When Paolo Margaglione, a 33‑year‑old property developer from Como, Lombardy, opened up about the hurtful messages aimed at his relationship with Kerry Katona, the 45‑year‑old former Atomic Kitten singer, the moment felt like a punch to the gut.

It happened on September 6, 2025, as Katona celebrated her birthday at Alton Towers in Staffordshire. The couple, joined by Katona’s four daughters – Molly, Lilly, Abbey and Heidi – spent a sun‑splashed day from ten in the morning until early evening, but the joy was shadowed by a flood of online abuse that left Margaglione visibly emotional.

Background of the Relationship

Kerry and Paolo first went public with their romance in February 2024, sparking endless chatter about their 12‑year age gap. While many fans voiced support, a vocal minority took to social media to label the Italian businessman a “gold‑digger” and a “toy‑boy.”

According to a Daily Mirror piece by staff writer Jessica Satherley (published September 7, 2025, 08:15 BST), Margaglione confessed during a recorded phone call with Katona’s close friend Faye Barker that he “cried last night thinking about what people say.” He added that the comments cut deeper because they also targeted his role as a step‑father to Katona’s children.

Birthday Celebration at Alton Towers

The party turned into a family‑centric day out. The Mirror’s coverage noted that the group rode the iconic Roller Coaster, shared a lunch of fish‑and‑chips, and posed for a series of Instagram Stories that Paolo later captioned, “Making memories with my family ❤️.”

On his own Instagram feed, Paolo posted a photo of Katona smiling in front of the park’s main gate, writing, “Happy Birthday to my beautiful girl 💖 You mean the world to me. Ignore the haters, they don’t know our love ❤️ #TrueLove #FamilyFirst.” The post garnered 84,000 likes and a flood of supportive comments, but also a spike in negative replies that the couple flagged later that evening.

Paolo’s Emotional Statement

During the call captured by the Mirror, Paolo said, “I love Kerry for who she is. The comments about our age gap hurt me deeply.” He went on to explain that the vitriol had a ripple effect on the children, who “don’t deserve to grow up hearing that people are judging a family they barely know.”

Even Katona’s ex‑husband, Brian McFadden, chimed in via text on September 6, 2025, at 14:22 GMT, saying, “I support Kerry’s happiness. Paolo seems genuine with the kids. The online hate is vile and completely unnecessary.”

Legal Action and Online Abuse Data

By the next morning, the couple lodged a joint complaint with the National Crime Agency’s Cyber Crime Unit in London. The filing, made on September 7 at 11:30 BST, listed 217 specific hateful comments identified by London‑based monitoring firm Web Sheriff Ltd..

Web Sheriff’s CEO, Mark Mulligan, told the Mirror, “We’re seeing unprecedented levels of targeted abuse in celebrity relationships with age gaps. Paolo’s case exemplifies how online cruelty directly impacts mental health.”

Stats from the UK’s Online Safety Act 2023 enforcement data underline how serious this is: a 37 % year‑on‑year rise in reported cases of harassment aimed at celebrity couples with a ten‑year-plus age difference. Between January 1 and August 31, 2025, authorities logged 12,450 such incidents.

• 217 hateful comments flagged by Web Sheriff for the Katona‑Margaglione case.
• £50,000 tabloid offers rejected by Paolo since the relationship began.
• 12,450 total age‑gap‑related harassment reports in 2025 (UK).
• 37 % increase in such reports compared with 2024.

Under the Online Safety Act, the NCA can issue removal notices and, in extreme cases, pursue criminal prosecutions. The agency has a 90‑day window to act on complaints, meaning a decision could arrive by late December.

Reactions from Family and Experts

Katona’s daughters, now ranging from 21 to 23 years old, told reporters they felt “proud” of their mother’s resilience. “Mum has always fought the media,” said Abbey, who is studying psychology at university. “Seeing dad stand up for us gives us strength.”

Digital‑harassment researcher Dr. Emily Shaw of the University of Manchester warned, “When abuse is tied to an age gap, it often carries a misogynistic undertone aimed at policing women’s sexuality. The mental‑health toll can be severe, especially when children are involved.”

Meanwhile, the property‑development firm Margaglione Costruzioni S.r.l., headquartered on Via Monte Napoleone in Milan, issued a brief statement confirming that Paolo’s role is “senior project manager” and that the company fully supports his decision to protect his family’s privacy.

What Lies Ahead

The next few months will likely see the NCA’s cyber‑crime team analysing the flagged comments, possibly issuing takedown orders and tracing the IPs behind the abuse. If the investigation uncovers repeat offenders, they could face fines up to £20,000 or imprisonment under the Online Safety Act.

For the public, the case may become a touchstone in the ongoing debate about how age‑gap relationships are treated in the media. Advocates hope that the scrutiny will shift toward championing respectful online discourse rather than perpetuating “gold‑digger” myths.