Former Jesy Nelson was overcome with emotion as she appeared on television for the first time since splitting from her fiancé Zion Foster, just months after welcoming twin daughters who have been diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).
The singer, who shot to fame with Little Mix, broke down in tears during an appearance on This Morning, where she met Health Secretary Wes Streeting to campaign for SMA to be added to the UK’s newborn screening programme.
It marked Jesy’s first public outing since news emerged that she and Zion had called off their engagement following the birth of their daughters, Ocean Jade and Story Monroe, who were later diagnosed with SMA Type 1 – a rare and devastating genetic condition.
Struggling to keep her composure, Jesy spoke candidly about the fear every parent faces when SMA is not detected early. She explained that seeing the condition up close had deeply affected Wes, saying it becomes real when you witness the severity first-hand – the stark reality that “your child could walk, or your child could be in a wheelchair.”
Fighting back tears, she added that no parent should ever have to face that kind of uncertainty, stressing how passionately she feels about changing the system so others do not go through the same trauma. Jesy later urged the Health Secretary to “put his money where his mouth is” and fast-track SMA screening for newborns.
The emotional interview also revealed the personal toll the diagnosis has taken. Jesy admitted she wants to be a mother to her daughters, not their nurse, as she navigates a future that includes medical equipment, breathing machines and care routines no parent ever imagines for their child.
Despite the heartbreak of her split from Zion, sources say the former couple remain committed to co-parenting and giving their daughters the best quality of life possible. The pair had an on-off relationship dating back to 2022, briefly splitting before reuniting and later announcing their pregnancy in January 2025 with a joyful Instagram post declaring she was “eating for three.”
They became engaged in September, just months after the twins were born in May, making the news of their separation all the more shocking for fans. Subtle signs emerged when Jesy appeared on television earlier this month without her engagement ring, carefully keeping her hands out of view.
Jesy has since spoken openly about grieving the life she once imagined. In a heartbreaking moment, she admitted she is mourning the future she thought she would have with her children, as her world has been turned upside down by their diagnosis.
