‘He couldn’t FIGHT’: Cheryl has her ex Jean-Bernard in a ‘vice-like’ grip

They were only married for 18 months, but it seems Cheryl still has her claws dug in to Jean Bernard Versini.

The singer is in the middle of a legal bind with the restaurateur which forbids him to talk about their relationship to anyone.

The former couple are going through a "protracted separation," and Cheryl was afraid Jean Bernard would start to talk about her to the media as she's taking on numerous projects at the moment and it would be bad for her rep.

The Sun reports that the French businessman wants to tell his side of the story.

"JB just wanted to have the freedom to speak but he knew that he couldn't fight against Cheryl's lawyers," an insider told the publication.

"He doesn't have the money for a long drawn out legal battle and Cheryl is adamant she doesn't want him to speak about their relationship."