Jesy Nelsonâs ex-fiancĂ© Zion Foster has spoken publicly about their split, saying the recent reaction to his comments has been âincredibly painfulâ and insisting he remains committed to his twin daughters.
Jesy Nelson, Zion Foster and their daughters in May 2025(Image: Jam Press/@?jesynelson)
The former Little Mix star and Zion welcomed Ocean Jade and Story Monroe in May 2025. The girls were born prematurely, and months later Jesy noticed that they were not moving in the way she expected. The twins were later diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, known as SMA.
Zion had previously said he felt âout of my depthâ after learning about the rare condition, but he has now clarified that he never meant he was stepping away from fatherhood. In a message shared on Instagram, he said his focus had always been on his children.
Foster posted his comments on Instagram(Image: Zion Foster/Instagram)
Foster and Nelson pushing their daughters’ pram(Image: Jam Press/@?jesynelson)
A father clarifies his words
Zion said some of the comments he had read in recent days were not true. He explained that being âout of my depthâ meant facing a complex medical diagnosis that he did not yet understand, not abandoning his responsibilities as a dad.
He said he did not have the knowledge or experience at first and was scared while trying to process emotions that no parent would ever hope to face. His message was emotional, direct and clearly aimed at correcting the idea that vulnerability meant absence.
According to Zion, learning about SMA has been overwhelming, but it has also pushed him to educate himself, attend appointments and find the best possible way to support Ocean and Story. He described being their father as the greatest responsibility and privilege of his life.
Split with Jesy and life as parents
Zion also addressed the end of his relationship with Jesy, saying the decision was hers rather than his. He said he respected that choice, but stressed that the breakup did not change his commitment to their daughters.
The situation comes ahead of Jesyâs new documentary, Jesy Nelson: Life Changing, which is expected to follow the singer as she comes to terms with her daughtersâ diagnosis, adapts to everyday challenges and finds her footing as a single mother.
Zion said the journey has been heartbreaking for everyone involved. He added that nobody can prepare a family for news like this, and that each person is trying to navigate it in their own way.
Nelson and Foster in 2023
Their daughters a month after their birth(Image: INSTAGRAM)
Jesyâs campaign for newborn screening
Jesy has been campaigning for SMA to be added to the UK newborn blood spot screening programme, arguing that earlier detection could help families access treatment sooner and reduce the risk of life-changing effects.
The condition can cause muscle weakness and may affect movement, breathing, swallowing and other aspects of development. In Jesyâs case, the diagnosis has turned her private family life into a deeply personal public campaign.
For fans, the story has become about more than a celebrity split. It is about two very young children, two parents under pressure and a mother using her platform to push for change after a diagnosis no family would ever wish to face.
A plea for empathy
Zion ended his message by asking people not to mistake vulnerability for abandonment. He said asking for help or admitting you do not have all the answers does not make someone a bad father, it makes them human.
His comments add another emotional layer to Jesyâs upcoming documentary, which has already been described as a raw look at family, health, motherhood and resilience. While the split remains painful, Zionâs message was clear: he wants to be there for his daughters.
As Jesy prepares to share more of her story, the familyâs situation has sparked a wider conversation about judgement, support and the reality of parenting through a serious diagnosis in the public eye
