Conor Maynard clears name after taking second paternity test, in dispute with Charlotte Chilton
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British singer Conor Maynard has officially addressed the ongoing paternity dispute involving The Traitors star Charlotte Chilton, after a second DNA test confirmed he is not the father of her 18-month-old daughter, Penelope.
The controversy, which has spanned over a year, began after Chilton publicly alleged that Maynard was the biological father of her child. The pair reportedly met at a wrap party for the BBC reality series in early 2024, introduced through Maynard’s sister, Anna, who is in a relationship with show winner Harry Clark.
Maynard initially refrained from commenting on the matter, but underwent a paternity test which determined he was not Penelope’s father. Chilton, however, requested a second test, raising concerns about the presence of an "unidentified male" during the initial sample collection. The second test, conducted at a Ministry of Justice-accredited facility of Chilton’s choosing, also confirmed Maynard is not the biological father.
In a statement shared on Instagram, Maynard wrote: “As with the last test, this test has confirmed again that I am not Penelope’s father. This has been difficult for me and my family, and I'm so grateful for everyone's support. I'm glad we can now finally draw a line under this.”
Chilton, who has been vocal about her belief that Maynard fathered her child, is said to be “shell-shocked” by the result. A representative for her said she has “fought an extraordinary battle for truth and justice” and will eventually share her side of the story after taking time to process.
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Earlier this year, Maynard opened up about the emotional toll the situation took on him, telling This Morning that he struggled with mental health issues while facing public scrutiny and being labeled a “deadbeat dad.”
He has since moved on in his personal life, now living with his girlfriend, Kitty Bertrand.