Colin Firth's Wife Acknowledges Affair With Accused Stalker

Colin Firth's wife, Livia Giuggioli, has accused an Italian journalist of stalking her and engaging in a "frightening campaign of harassment," People reports. But the couple now acknowledges that Giuggioli, a 48-year-old film producer, had an affair with 55-year-old Marco Brancaccia. “A few years ago Colin and Livia privately made the decision to separate," reads a statement from the couple." During that time Livia briefly became involved with former friend Mr. Brancaccia. The Firths have since reunited.” The statement continues: "Subsequently, Mr. Brancaccia carried out a frightening campaign of harassment over several months, much of which is documented."

But Brancaccia says it was love, actually. He tells the Times he and Giuggioli were "romantically involved" and "she wanted to leave Colin for me." He claims what Giuggioli characterizes as stalking and harassment amounts to two WhatsApp messages and an email after she ended their relationship in 2016. Brancaccia says he sent an email to Firth revealing the affair and Giuggioli, afraid of Brancaccia going public with information about her marriage, made the accusations against him. The affair and stalking accusation are getting attention now because of what Firth and Giuggioli say is a leaked court document. Firth and Giuggioli married in 1997 and have two children and a home in Italy together, HuffPo reports. (More Colin Firth stories.)