Natalie Cassidy breaks silence on ‘disgusting' cancer hoax weeks after leaving EastEnders
FORMER EastEnders actress Natalie Cassidy has slammed a "disgusting and disgraceful" fake rumour suggesting she is battling breast cancer.
The popular soap star took to her Instagram Stories for a fiery rant over the "terrible and made up" allegations.
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The EastEnders alum, 42, who told of her decision to quit her EastEnders role as Sonia Fowler earlier this year, screen-grabbed the article image and concerning headline, which read: "Natalie Cassidy Breaks Down as She Reveals Breast Cancer Diagnosis."
It then allegedly featured a quote from the TV star which read: "I Didn't Want Anyone to Know..."
Images showed her in-character on the show as well as smiling in a cheery headshot.
Yet Natalie, who this year quit EastEnders after 32 years on the soap, categorically slammed the suggestions of her illness.
She furiously wrote in her caption: "THIS IS DISGUSTING AND DISGRACEFUL.
"So many people are going through this and I have had messages asking if I'm ok.
"It is completely made up and a terrible story.
"Take this down whoever you are."
The fake news came after the mum of two opened up on a huge pop star who used to bully her at school.
EastEnders' Natalie Cassidy claims huge pop star used to BULLY her at school and reveals awkward confrontation
ALL CHANGE
The shock story also came just weeks after Natalie's podcast with Joanna Page was scrapped by the BBC in a huge career change.
Yet she still has her own podcast, Life With Nat.
The podcast scrap came after we reported how Natalie had landed a new TV show with the broadcaster.
BBC Daytime have commissioned a new series - under the working title Natalie Cassidy Learning to Care - for BBC One and iPlayer.
EastEnders stars who QUIT
MICHELLE Collins has seen her second EastEnders stint boost her bank balance. Yet what stars have quit this year?
The Sun exclusively reported how Michelle, 62, was down to £20,000 in her company accounts when she agreed to a shock back-from-the-dead return to Albert Square last year.
Her character, Cindy Beale, was presumed dead off-camera in 1998.
Yet what about the 2024 exits?
Earlier this summer, loyal soap fans appeared to note how Stevie Mitchell had "quit" the long-running series.
It came after Alan Ford enjoyed just six-months on-screen.
Bobby Beale actor Clay Milner Russell also left this year after five years in Walford.
Fans also feared Martin Fowler actor James Bye would "quit out of boredom" over recent storylines.
Additionally, a host of stars have quit the BBC soap for Hollywood fame.
One of the most successful stars to come from the BBC One soap is Rob Kazinsky.
He played Stacey Slater's brother Sean Slater from 2006 to 2009, he has starred in Hollywood blockbusters Pacific Rim and Captain Marvel.
Ben Hardy, who quit EastEnders as Bobby Beale almost a decade ago, went on to break Hollywood the following year, when he starred as Archangel in X-Men: Apocalypse.
Since then, he has played Roger Taylor in Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, and he starred in Michael Bay 's Netflix movie 6 Underground.
Michelle Ryan played Zoe Slater until 2005.
She starred as the lead in short-lived American series Bionic Woman from 2007 to 2008.
The actress will fulfil her longtime ambition of wanting to train as carer.
This means enrolling at one of the UK's top Health & Social Care colleges - alongside the next generation of carers.
In recent years, Natalie has cared for family members and volunteered in local groups.
The show follows her journey across classroom to community care services - as she's there for life's toughest moments.
While to make things official, the actress will have to pass her final exam.
Natalie said: 'I'm thrilled to be embarking on a new adventure with BBC Daytime.
"In a series exploring social care, I will be going back to college and learning for the first time since leaving school at 16.
"Caring has always been a huge part of my life, from watching my mum care for my nan, to being a mother to caring for my dad, this series is close to my heart and I can't wait for you to see it.'
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