Former Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson and her fiancé, rapper Zion Foster, have reportedly called off their engagement. The split comes just weeks after the couple received the devastating news that their eight-month-old twin daughters, Ocean and Story, have been diagnosed with a severe neuromuscular disorder.
A Family United in Co-Parenting Amid Heartbreak
The 34-year-old star and the 26-year-old rapper, who got engaged in September 2025 after four years together, are said to be remaining 'united as co-parents'. A source close to the pair emphasised that their sole focus is the wellbeing of their children, stating: 'She and Zion remain friends and are fully focused on their daughters.' The insider added to The Sun that 'their priority continues to be the well-being of their daughters' and that 'they are fully united in co-parenting'.
The end of their romantic relationship was hinted at earlier this month when Jesy appeared on ITV's This Morning without her engagement ring. During that emotional interview, she publicly discussed her daughters' diagnosis of Type 1 Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), the most severe form of the condition.
Campaigning for Change After Life-Altering Diagnosis
Type 1 SMA symptoms, which typically appear in infancy, include extreme muscle weakness, difficulties swallowing and serious respiratory issues. Since the diagnosis, Jesy has launched a campaign to have SMA added to the UK's newborn blood spot screening, commonly known as the heel prick test. She has started a petition to push for this vital change.
Addressing her 9.7 million Instagram followers and the public via This Morning, Jesy explained her motivation: 'I have this platform, and I almost feel like I’ve got a duty of care to raise awareness about it.' She expressed a profound sense of responsibility, adding, 'it feels selfish to keep this to myself and not potentially save a child’s life.'
The NHS currently offers the heel prick test to every baby at five days old to check for nine rare but serious health conditions, but SMA is not one of them. Scotland has announced it will begin screening babies from spring 2026, but the UK National Screening Committee does not yet recommend it for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, though it is reviewing the decision due to new treatments.
A Father's Poignant Tribute and a Mother's Resolve
Zion Foster shared his emotional journey on Instagram last Thursday, posting a self-written poem about acceptance and unconditional love for his daughters. He wrote movingly about the initial prognosis: 'They said it's unlikely you'll walk, you may not be able to talk, probably won't be able to hold your head up, that's what me and Jesy heard - SMA Type 1.'
His poem focused on loving his daughters 'for who you are right now, without conditions,' praising them as 'two little warrior girls who already know how to fight.' In the caption, he hailed Jesy as 'the definition of a superwoman' for highlighting the 'indefensible' flaw in the healthcare system. 'Reality is, it’s indefensible and needs to be changed, simple. Test kids at birth for SMA in the UK now that there are revolutionary treatments available,' he urged.
Jesy described how her life has 'completely changed,' with her home now resembling a hospital. 'I just want to be their mum, I don’t want to be a nurse,' she said. Thankfully, the twins have now received a one-off gene therapy infusion. 'It essentially puts the gene back in their body that they don’t have and it stops any of the muscles that are still working from dying. But any that have gone, you can’t regain them back,' she explained, underlining why early detection is so critical: 'if this is caught from birth, it’s just life-changing.'
The singer, who rose to fame after winning The X Factor with Little Mix in 2011, left the band in December 2020. Representatives for both Jesy Nelson and Zion Foster have been contacted for comment by the Daily Mail.
