Elizabeth Hurley and Billy Ray Cyrus are in love and happily playing house in the country, but there’s another important man who is feeling increasingly shut out of her life – her only child, beloved son Damian.
We hear that as happy as Damian, 24, is that his mum has found love again, he can’t help but feel their own close relationship is a casualty of her romance with Billy Ray.
“It’s pretty obvious that Billy Ray would rather have Liz all to himself, and that’s been a big adjustment for Damian because he’s used to having his mum’s attention all the time,” an insider tells Woman’s Day of the dynamic with Liz, 61, who has raised Damian as a single mother in between her relationships.
THREE’S A CROWD
“They used to be joined at the hip and now he’s essentially become a third wheel, which is pretty tough. He’s happy that his mum is happy, but at the same time he does miss the way things were.”
In the past, Damian has made an effort to forge his own relationships with his mum’s partners, wholly embracing Shane Warne and his children, and still remaining close to his former stepfather, Arun Nayar.
But when it comes to Billy Ray, 64, insiders say Damian’s struggling to find his place.
“Damian and Billy Ray get along perfectly fine. They’ve both made a big effort because they know that’s what Liz really wants, but they aren’t especially close,” says the source.
“Billy Ray is an all-consuming, hot and heavy guy. He’s extremely passionate and that doesn’t leave a lot of room for anyone else in Liz’s life, even her son,” the source continues.
Liz recently gushed about how compatible she is with the country singer, declaring they are “very happy together” as buzz around their engagement plans continues.
On finding the right balance between his country home in the US and her country home in the UK, the model says the fact they’re both homebodies is the thing that binds them.
SHARED CONNECTIONS
“The good thing is that he’s very country where he is in Tennessee [and] I’m very country where I am,” she says.
“And I think that’s a really, really important thing in our relationship that neither of us want to be out and about. Very rarely, and for business of course, occasionally for a friend’s something, but we actually like being at home in the country.”
According to the insider, hearing his mum sing the praises of Billy’s “adorable” popstar daughter Miley, 33, hasn’t helped Damian’s feelings of isolation – even though he’s long been a personal fan of her music and acting!
“Damian doesn’t really know Miley well enough to have any big issue with her. But even so, there’s a sense of envy now that she’s spending more time with his mum, who has made it clear that she intends to build on that relationship moving forward,” says the source.
The blended family dynamic could only get more awkward as Liz moves towards the Cyrus side and further away from UK-based Damian.
“Billy Ray is pushing for Miley to hang out with him and Liz any time they’re in the same place. He’s even suggested they go away together for a vacation and bring her husband Maxx [Morando] along too,” the insider adds.
“There’s been no talk of Damian being included, which has to be pretty galling from his perspective.”
