Cliff Notes – X Factor star cancels Pride performance almost one year after boyfriend’s death
- Jaymi Hensley, former Union J member, cancelled his performance at Worthing Pride due to ‘personal reasons’, nearly a year after the death of his fiancé, Oliver Marmon.
- Marmon tragically died in August 2024, just weeks before their wedding, leading Hensley to openly share his grief journey on social media.
- Hensley expressed his deep emotional struggle, stating he never cancels performances unless absolutely necessary, highlighting the impact of his loss on his mental health.
X Factor star cancels Pride performance almost one year after boyfriend’s death
Union J’s Jaymi Hensley cancelled his Pride gig over the weekend (Picture: Instagram)
Union J star Jaymi Hensley, 35, revealed he has cancelled his Pride gig for ‘personal reasons’ 11 months after his fiancé’s sudden death.
His partner, Oliver Marmon, died aged 33 in August 2024 after tragically falling from a hotel window in Wellingborough just weeks before their wedding.
Marmon’s funeral took place in September on what would have been their wedding day, with Hensley writing: ‘I will never be ready, I miss you so much! I love you more than I’ve ever loved any one.’
The singer rose to fame as part of the X Factor boy band Union J – also made up of Josh Cuthbert, JJ Hamlet and George Shelley – who appeared on the reality show in 2012.
Now a solo artist, Hensley was set to perform at Worthing Pride over the weekend (July 4 and 5) but revealed he was pulling out.
He wrote on his story: ‘Guys I’m really sorry for those who were coming to see me but for personal reasons I’m unable to perform at Worthing Pride tomorrow.
The music artist cited ‘personal reasons’ (Picture: Redferns)
The event was set to take place this weekend (Picture: Instagram)
‘I really hope you understand I never cancel unless it is necessary.’
The music artist, who goes by the double-barrelled surname Henlsey-Marmon on social media, has been open about his grief journey on social media since his partner’s death.
In a post at the end of June, he shared his bittersweet feelings at going on holiday to Marseille – and shared a clip of a butterfly that stayed with him for 30 minutes.
‘Felt tearful this morning, have arrived in Marseille which was the last point me and Oliver did exactly two weeks before he left, went out to the deck and this little guy hasn’t left me alone for 30 mins,’ he wrote.
Meanwhile, in March, he shared a collection of snaps of him and Marmon over the years to mark 15 years since he asked Marmon to marry him.
Hensley has been open about his journey with grief since his fiancée’s death last August (Picture: Instagram)
‘What I wouldn’t give to go back to that day just to feel that happiness for one minute again! I miss you so much.
‘I’m in love with you more today than I have ever been in my life, but the hardest part is knowing that no matter how hard I wish or want, I will never get to feel the happiness again with you I felt over the last 15 years!’ he reflected to his followers.
At the time of Marmon’s death, a 34-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder before later being released.
In September, an inquest found his cause of death was as a result of ‘head injuries pending further testing.’
Marmons’ mother also paid tribute to her son at the time calling him ‘so special’ and her ‘best friend’.
She added: ‘We spoke every single day. He called me mummy, he used to call me his guardian angel.
‘Oliver was so caring, loving, quiet and always put others before himself. He was a very talented hairdresser, and it was a passion he took seriously.’
