Kristina Rihanoff and Ben Cohen, who met on Strictly Come Dancing over a decade ago, have reportedly split. The couple fell for each other on the hit BBC show in 2013, when rugby union player Ben – who was married to then-wife Abby Cohen – was paired with the professional Russian dancer. Kristina, 47, and Ben, 46, were reportedly hit by the Strictly curse, with the couple becoming an item after Ben split from wife Abby. They later welcomed daughter Mila together in 2016. Amid the reported split, friends told The Sun: “It’s like the curse in reverse. This will be like karma for Abby, she was so upset when Ben left her. It’s like he has got his comeuppance.”
Kristina Rihanoff and Ben Cohen met on Strictly Come Dancing
(Image: PA)
Financial woes have plagued the pair recently, leading them to put their £1.75 million Northampton home up for sale and Ben stepping down as a director from their shared yoga venture. The friend added: “The past six months have been hell for them and it has torn the love they had apart. For the sake of their family, they have chosen to go forward as separate individuals. “Those close to them who know them as a couple had hoped they would be able to work things out but for now it’s over and it looks like there’s no going back.” OK! has contacted Kristina and Ben’s representatives for comment.
Ben Cohen and Kristina Riahnoff welcomed daughter Mila in 2016
(Image: LORNA ROACH PHOTOGRAPHY)
In September, a court was told that the couple were so financially strained they were “fighting not to lose their relationship and their home” as the former Strictly professional appealed a conviction for driving without insurance. At the time, the court heard how Ben and Kristina’s businesses, including a yoga studio, suffered due to Covid, with Ben stating: “I get up every day and I fight not to lose everything to lose my cars and my house and my relationship. I’m so overdrawn.” When asked about the impact of his financial struggles on his relationship with Kristina, he added: “We’re still living together. We’re in it financially. “We’re in business together so the problem is that we opened the business before Covid and we got the worst severities of it and in all honestly this is just another problem for me to deal with.
The couple faced financial struggles in recent months
“I’ve got credit cards that are overdrawn. I’m overdrawn in both accounts. We have got a business debt because of Covid. It’s just another problem.” During his rugby career, Ben played for Northampton, Brive and Sale Sharks, as well as England from 2000 until 2006. He retired from the sport in 2011 and in recent years, appeared on The Jump, The Celebrity Chase and The Real Full Monty. Kristina rose to fame in 2008 when she joined the cast of Strictly, participating in eight series during her time on the show. She left in 2015 before entering the Celebrity Big Brother house the following year.
