Gemma Collins’ former best pal pays tribute to her mum Joan after sad death – despite ‘bitter’ feud between Towie stars

GEMMA Collins ex best pal has paid tribute to her late mum Joan despite their ‘bitter’ feud. The reality star, 45, announced earlier this week that her beloved mum Joan had passed away after several years of health issues. Gemma Collins’ former best pal Saffron Lempriere pays tribute to her mum Joan after sad death Credit: saffronlempriere_x / instagram The pair have been at odds for years but in Gemma’s time of need Saffron has come to the support of her former pal Credit: Splash News Towie stars Saffron Lempriere and Gemma were at one point best friends and inseparable, but a fallout over a man sparked the beginning of the end of their friendship. The pair have been at odds for years but in Gemma’s time of need Saffron has come to the support of her former pal. Sign up for the TV newsletter Thank you! Taking to Instagram Saffron uploaded a sweet post which included various photos of her, Joan and Gemma. Alongside she penned the caption: “Rest in Paradise Joan. READ MORE ON GEMMA COLLINS “Lots of lovely happy memories all together, or telling us to pack it in like naughty kids but we still all laughed, you will always be one of a kind with a beautiful soul. Forever loved by all your family & friends fly high (heart emoji).” Gemma is yet to comment on the post. Saffron and Gemma’s rocky relationship came to a head in 2024, when the pair nearly had a spat in a pub with sources claiming their friendship was now ‘irreparable’. Saffron later opened up to fans during a Q+A, she said: “I was never friends with the GC, I was best friends with Gemma. We was like sisters and we made memories that last a life time. Most read in TV “Life happens, things change and people drift but that’s it.” Putting the past behind her, it’s clear that Saffron has put any hostility aside and is there for her former bestie in her time of need. Gemma announced her mum’s death online earlier this week, sharing how she had passed ‘peacefully’ and was finally ‘out of pain’. Gemma announced her mum’s death online earlier this week, sharing how she had passed ‘peacefully’ Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Gemma has now said her grief is ‘coming in waves’ and detailed how she is healing during the difficult time Credit: saffronlempriere_x / instagram Just last month, Joan was rushed to hospital after being struck down with pneumonia for the second time in the space of six months. When her mum was admitted to hospital, Gemma told fans she “couldn’t sleep with worry”. Just six months before her hospital visit at the start of June, Joan was hospitalised with pneumonia again. She spent five weeks under medical care before Christmas, with Gemma describing the time as the ‘toughest of her life’. Joan had spent time in medical care several times in recent years. In March 2020 , she was first taken to hospital with pneumonia and it was reported that she suffered from rheumatoid arthritis. The condition left her with a heavily compromised immune system and vulnerable to infections. Four years later in 2024, Gemma was left heartbroken as she told how her mum was in intensive care following a breast cancer diagnosis. At the time, Joan, who found a cancerous lump between her breast and armpit. Gemma has now said her grief is ‘coming in waves’ and detailed how she is healing during the difficult time. She continued to say that her fans and friends were the ones ‘holding me up’. Comment now