Jade Goody’s mum has furiously hit back at Jeff Brazier and his attempts to stop her seeing grandson Freddie over concerns for his welfare.
TV presenter Jeff launched legal action to keep Freddie, 20, and his gran, Jackiey Budden, apart amid their years-long feud.
On Sunday, it was reported that Freddie had been spotted ‘smoking a joint’ with Jackiey as onlookers claimed she was ‘acting erratically’.
It was the latest milestone in the fiery relationship between her and former son-in-law Jeff.
Jackiey, aged 68, is the mother of Jade, who passed away from cervical cancer in 2009. At that time, Freddie was only four years old, while his brother, Bobby, who is known for his role in the TV show Eastenders, was five.
Recently, Jackiey has spoken out in her defense, refuting the legal proceedings aimed at preventing her from seeing Freddie. She also shared a touching tribute to Jade, who would have celebrated her 45th birthday last Thursday.
Jackiey said: ‘This is all nonsense – seriously. I’m serious. Freddie has been here this morning.
‘He’s just left. He will come back. I’m still going to be seeing him.’
Outside her Bermondsey flat, new tributes to Jade have been displayed by Jackiey.
Among them are flowers, a series of photos of the pair together and Mother’s Day cards. They also include love heart signs and flowers.
Neighbours of Jackiey – who appeared on Celebrity Big Brother with Jade – have also defended her.
One said: ‘I’ve known her for years. She’s a good nan. She’s been through hell.
‘She loves those boys. She might not always be very diplomatic. But she’s protective of the lads.
‘She’d do anything for them.’
Jackiey and Jeff have been involved in multiple disputes over the years. Just last month, it was disclosed that Freddie’s father has taken legal measures to ensure the safety of his son.
The Mail on Sunday revealed yesterday that Freddy, who was restricted from seeing Jackiey by Jeff, after he filed court paperwork, spent last week at her home in Bermondsey anyway.
Family friends say the duo remain ‘extremely close,’ explaining: ‘Jeff was never going to keep Freddy away from his Nanny for very long – they’ve always had a strong bond.
‘Jeff may hate her for all sorts of reasons going back many years, but Freddy loves her very much.
‘They had a great time together, playing with her dog and catching up at her flat – where he has often stayed over the years.
‘Whatever Jeff hoped to achieve with his legal efforts, it hasn’t worked.’
Amid onlookers spotting the pair smoke suspicious cigarettes together, there were claims Jackiey was ‘acting erratically’.
A court date being set for Jeff’s legal battle with Jackiey has sparked a vicious war of words between the pair.
Furious Jackiey said she knew nothing about his legal bid before it was leaked to a newspaper – and insisted that Freddy, who is now 20, was old enough to make his own decisions.
Sitting down with The Mail afterwards, she raged: ‘I could ruin him if I wanted to. I just need to make sense of it all. I only found out about this court business when he told the newspapers about it – he didn’t even tell me himself.
‘He’s never liked Freddy being with me. He says it’s because I smoke and give him drugs. Listen, Fred was fully involved when he was with his dad. I’m talking about drugs; that boy had his first bit of weed at fourteen.
‘He never took a puff at my house until he was 16. I smoke with him, but he was safe with me because I knew what he was smoking; it was in my house.
‘There have been issues for a few years ago Jeff has been trying to stop Freddy from seeing me, but he’s 20 years old now and he has to be allowed to make his own decisions and do what he wants to do for himself.
‘He used to lie to Jeff about where he was, but about a year and a half ago I asked “Does your Dad know you’re here?” and he just replied “Yes”, and said he was sick of lying about it.’
But this weekend Freddy returned to his grandmother’s home, in a move likely to infuriate Jeff who has long disliked Jackiey’s close relationship with late Big Brother star Jade’s sons.
Freddy and his older brother Bobby remained close to the 67-year-old after their mother’s tragic death from cancer in 2009, aged just 27.
The family feud was highlighted again in 2023 when Jeff insisted Jackiey should not attend the BBC Strictly Come Dancing studios where Bobby was competing.
Her notable absent came after a period of estrangement, but she and Bobby later reconciled.
It’s understood the young EastEnders actor was heartbroken to be caught in the middle of the disagreement between his father and grandmother – telling friends the feud was ‘extremely hurtful’.
