Zara McDermott has officially moved on from her five-year relationship with Sam Thompson, recently enjoying a romantic date with One Direction star Louis Tomlinson.
This unexpected romance follows Zara’s breakup with Sam in January. Meanwhile, Sam has admitted he isn’t ready to date again and even shared his thoughts on moving on too quickly in a recent podcast episode. He hinted that some people seek validation through new relationships, but he personally doesn’t feel ready to do so.
Their relationship had faced challenges in the past, particularly due to Zara’s affair with music executive Brahim Fouradi in 2019. The scandal became public 16 months after she started dating Sam, with their split and later reconciliation playing out on Made In Chelsea. Sources suggest that while Sam forgave Zara, the betrayal was difficult for him and his family to fully move past—especially his sister Louise, who initially disapproved of their reconciliation.
Despite their efforts to make the relationship work, insiders claim that the couple had been drifting apart for months before their eventual breakup. One source revealed that while Zara made amends, their relationship never felt truly long-term.
Reflecting on her past infidelity, Zara admitted on Made In Chelsea in 2022 that she believed their relationship was already fragile when she made the mistake. After her affair was exposed, she publicly apologized to Sam on social media, expressing deep regret for her actions.
Though Sam ultimately chose to forgive her, stating that he believes in the importance of moving forward and learning from mistakes, their relationship ultimately came to an end earlier this year.
