Cliff Notes – Rio Ferdinand claps back at trolls on wife Kate’s bikini pictures
- Rio Ferdinand defended his wife, Kate, after she faced criticism for sharing bikini photos from their family holiday, responding directly to a negative comment on social media.
- The couple, who married in 2019 and share two young children, received widespread support from followers, with many praising Kate’s appearance in the photos.
- Rumours suggest the family is considering a move to Dubai, where they first met, as they explore lifestyle options that suit their family dynamics.
Rio Ferdinand claps back at trolls on wife Kate’s bikini pictures
Kate Ferdinand’s husband Rio was having no criticism of his wife’s pictures.
Rio Ferdinand has stepped in to defend his wife Kate after she was criticised for sharing holiday pictures that featured her in a bikini. The former Man United footballer turned TV personality and influencer shared a carousel of photos from recent family time abroad on Saturday morning.
‘July has been full of memories (& food) in our home from home,’ she captioned the post, which included pictures of her and her husband holding hands outside a front door, a spread of tasty-looking food, time hanging out on the beach together and the family jumping into the pool together.
Naturally for someone enjoying a holiday abroad in the sun, Kate was seen in swimwear – and her choices were olive green and black bikinis.
Among pictures and videos Kate had shared playing with her kids, she’d also shared a happy selfie, wearing orange-tinted sunglasses, from a towel lying out on the grass in the shade.
In another picture, she’d snapped a classic bathroom selfie while in her black bikini, her hair wet from swimming.
The influencer shared photographs from a family holiday together, including a few bikini selfies.
‘Don’t think you need to show in a bikini [sic.],’ observed Brenda Weaver in the comments section.
It’s not clear which photo had offended her, but Rio was having none of it.
Within minutes of her posting the remark, Rio had responded: ‘@brendaweav1 ffs Brenda have a day off 😘’
Softening the retort with an emoji but not mincing his words earned both Rio and Kate an avalanche of support with the former footballer’s comment garnering 1,247 likes alone.
‘Why not? She looks sensational 😍 xx,’ added @kellyannw1980.
Husband Rio was in there straight away to bat of negativity on Kate’s behalf, alongside many of her followers (Picture: Instagram/@xkateferdinand)
Kate shared that her family been at their ‘home from home’ abroad (Picture: Instagram/@xkateferdinand)
She and Rio tied the knot in 2019 and have two toddlers together, as well as the ex-footballer’s three teenagers he shared with his late first wife (Picture: Instagram/@xkateferdinand)
‘@rioferdy5 😂😂😂 Tell dem,’ responded @may_yomi10.
The 46-year-old pundit and ex-England captain and his wife, 34, share five kids together.
Son Cree came along in December 2020, while daughter Shae turned two just days ago. Kate is also step-mum to Rio’s teenage kids Lorenz, 19, Tate, 16 and 14-year-old Tia, whom he had with late wife Rebecca Ellison.
Rebecca tragically died of breast cancer in May 2025, aged just 34.
Kate demonstrated her sweet relationship with the teenagers after Tate left two hearts in the comments of her post.
‘Omg! You commented on my picture. Must be my lucky day!! 🤣,’ she responded to the footballer with Brighton & Hove Albion FC’s U18 team.
Kate shares a sweet relationship with her step-kids too (Picture: Instagram/@xkateferdinand)
It’s been rumoured the family might be eyeing a move to the Middle East
She had also previously shared a snap of her taking a photo of Tia in a summery outfit outdoors – with her face covered by a yellow heart emoji – on her Instagram Stories, joking: ‘Hey, I’m Kate, Tia’s personal photographer.’
In April it was reported that Rio and Kate are eyeing up a move to Dubai – which was likely where they were spending their down time in July.
It’s where the couple first met while Kate was on holiday in 2016, being introduced through a mutual friend, before they got together in 2017 and married in Turkey in September 2019.
Rio and Kate first met in Dubai in 2016
The Sun reported that they were ‘seriously considering being based out in the Gulf’ and had already started looking at possible homes and schools.
‘They love the lifestyle and sunny weather and have lots of friends out there. It’s a very safe place for families and offers a healthy lifestyle, which suits them well,’ a source told the publication.
‘It holds a special place in their hearts as that’s where they met and both could easily travel back and forth for their work commitments in the UK.’