A multi-millionaire at the centre of a high-society marriage bust-up has broken his silence after his estranged wife took out a restraining order against him and shacked up with her best friend’s husband.
Christopher-John Nasser, a Sydney publican and investor, was issued with an apprehended domestic violence order last month by his estranged wife Hollie, 36.
But in a statement to Daily Mail Australia, Mr Nasser said he intended to fight the accusations with the case to go before court on December 15.
‘After being deeply hurt by the deception, choices, and actions of other adult parties, I am disturbed that those actions have been followed by manufactured and dishonest claims now being made about me,’ he said.
‘I categorically deny the allegations. They are totally baseless.
‘It is disappointing that others are choosing to make a horrible situation for me and my children even worse.’
Hollie Nasser is the wife of Charlie Aitken’s investment partner Chris Nasser (both pictured)
Ellie Aitken, 42, and Charlie Aitken, 48, (pictured together) announced their split in November
Police took out the order in the Local Court to protect Ms Nasser after she left the family home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs and moved in with wealth manager Charlie Aitken, 48, the husband of her best friend, Ellie, 42.
Court documents stated Mr Nasser must adhere to standard conditions including that he must not ‘assault, threaten, stalk or intimidate Ms Nasser, or anyone she has a domestic relationship with’.
A source close to the couple claims Ms Nasser repeatedly revealed to friends she ‘regretted’ taking out the restraining order and was considering having it withdrawn.
Mr Aitken confirmed in a statement last week that he and his ex-lawyer wife of 19 years had separated and he had a new girlfriend.
Ms Aitken (second left) and Ms Nasser (right) were best friends prior to November 2021
In 2019, Hollie Nasser said the Aitkens were the ‘best couple’ in an Instagram comment
‘I can confirm I am separated from Ellie Aitken and am in a relationship with Hollie Nasser.
‘My sole focus is my children and I’ll make no further comment,’ the statement said.
The Nassers and the Aitkens were best friends for years, with Mr Nasser an investor and director of the Aitkens’ wealth management company, until he resigned in early November.
Mr Aitken and Ms Nasser are believed to be living together in a serviced apartment in Bondi Junction.
Although the two women are no longer friends on Instagram, their comments to each other are still visible.
Last December, the mother-of-two (left) shared a photo with the glamorous socialite (centre, in red) during an event at the Sydney Opera House (pictured)
Ellie Aitken and Hollie Nasser pictured together. ‘I can confirm I am separated from Ellie Aitken and am in a relationship with Hollie Nasser,’ Charlie Aitken said
On a post Ms Aitken made to celebrate her wedding anniversary in 2019, her former best friend was quick to comment.
‘Happy anniversary!’ Ms Nasser wrote. ‘Best couple.’
In another post a few weeks later, Ms Aitken uploaded another happy snap of her fund manager husband and said he was the ‘kindest, most hardworking person I know’.
Last December, Ms Aitken shared a photo with Ms Nasser during an event at the Sydney Opera House where she said she was looking forward to a happy 2021.
‘A beautiful day with great friends to mark the end of a tough year,’ she wrote. ‘To a new one that brings happiness and good times to all.’
Just a few weeks before the split, Ms Aitken posted a gushing birthday message to her friend, telling Ms Nasser she was ‘so lucky to have you in my life’.
Ellie Aitken is pictured with show designer Terry Biviano at an exclusive event in 2019
The relationship has left many shocked as both couples had been friends for years (pictured, Ellie Aitken, in red, alongside former Liberal Party deputy leader Julie Bishop, centre, with Hollie Nasser, in blue, at Ms Aitken’s 40th birthday party in 2019)
The couple were known in elite social circles and counted Australian business giants as friends, including WA mining magnate Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest and media tycoon James Packer.
Until 2016, they lived in a spectacular $11 million mansion in Darling Point before moving to a rental property in Bellevue Hill.
Ms Aitken was also in high demand on the boards of charities and organisations including the Australian Ballet – making her one of the city’s finest networkers and charity fundraisers.
Ms Aitken is a former corporate mergers and acquisitions lawyer at Clayton Utz and one time director of the NSW Polo Association.
In 2011 however, she transitioned out of the legal sphere and into luxury lifestyle fashion with the launch of her label Aitken And Co.
Newcastle-bred Hollie Alford is a former medical research associate who married Mr Nasser at a glittering ceremony in Sydney’s St Mary’s Cathedral in 2016 before the reception at Quay restaurant.
Together the best friends were feted as leading lights of Sydney’s social circuit, regularly photographed at functions and charity events.
Mr Nasser (right) vows to clear his name in court against his estranged wife’s allegations
Ellie Aitken (pictured left) shared a post to Instagram where she gushed about her close friend Hollie Nasser (pictured right)