Estelle Cruijff, the ex-wife of Dutch football legend Ruud Gullit, publicly criticized the portrayal of her as a glamorous socialite, asserting she lives without “hofdames and lakeien” – ladies-in-waiting and footmen – around her. The comments, reported by De Telegraaf, represent a direct challenge to the public image that has followed her through and after her marriage to the former footballer.
Cruijff’s statements come amidst a resurgence of public discussion regarding her divorce from Gullit and allegations of infidelity. Multiple Dutch media outlets, including NUE and Kek Mama, have reported on the circumstances surrounding the separation, with Cruijff alleging she caught Gullit in an act of infidelity with their children present. She described a situation where her daughter experienced a significant weight loss of 15 kilograms as a result of the emotional distress. In an interview with Het Waren 2 Fantastische Dagen, Cruijff recounted discovering Gullit’s infidelity “in my living room.”
The renewed attention to the divorce coincides with separate legal troubles for another prominent Dutch athlete. Kickboxer Badr Hari was recently arrested for allegedly assaulting his ex-wife, as reported by DutchNews.nl. Even as the two cases are distinct, they both involve allegations of domestic issues within high-profile relationships in the Netherlands.
Cruijff’s recent comments appear to be a deliberate attempt to reclaim her narrative and distance herself from a perception she feels is inaccurate. She has consistently maintained that the public understanding of her life does not reflect her reality, and her latest remarks underscore that sentiment. The details of the divorce, including the alleged infidelity and its impact on her children, continue to be discussed in Dutch media.
