Singer Jessie J. experiences a miscarriage, shares news during emotional performance
Singer Jessie J is facing the unimaginable.
Last Wednesday, the English-born performer posted on Instagram to let the world know she had experienced a miscarriage.
“Yesterday morning I was laughing with a friend saying 'seriously though how am I going to get through my gig in LA tomorrow night without telling the whole audience I am pregnant. By yesterday afternoon I was dreading the thought of getting through the gig without breaking down...,"
She then explained the source of her pain, writing, "After going for my 3rd scan and being told there was no longer a heartbeat."
The pregnancy itself was news to many, as the “Price Tag” hitmaker isn’t currently in a public relationship. Instead, she revealed she had chosen to become a single mom “Because it’s all I’ve ever wanted and life is short.”
The loss was particularly devastating as the 33-year-old coach of The Voice U.K.
Rather than cancel her long-awaited show at LA’s The Hotel Café, scheduled for the day after her loss, Jessie J decided the show must go on. She showed up to the concert, only her second in two years thanks to widespread COVID-related restrictions on public gatherings, but was soon overwhelmed by her emotions.
She chose to share her grief with fans, dissolving into tears as she explained, “I was told a long time ago that I couldn’t have children and I never believed it. I don’t believe in lies.”
She later continued, “I decided to have a baby myself. And then by a miracle it worked for a little while. And yesterday, yeah, yesterday was f-king s—t.”
While some people might question the Critics’ Choice Brit Award Winner’s reason for sticking to her performance schedule, for Jessie, the choice seemed clear.
“I wanted to be here tonight because the one thing I believe in most in this whole entire universe, beyond surface conversations and Instagram and the internet, is being human and being vulnerable and being real.”
Not surprisingly for natural talent, being real includes using her voice to entertain others as well as herself. “What I do know is that I want to sing tonight. Not because I’m avoiding the grief or the process, but because I know singing tonight will help me.”
The miscarriage is a tragic exclamation point on a rough year that already saw the superstar diagnosed with Ménière's disease, a condition associated with potentially debilitating symptoms like hearing loss, ringing in the ear, and episodes of vertigo that bring on balance issues, nausea, and severe dizziness.
In her now-deleted Instagram post, Jessie looked to the future, addressing not only her loss but what she sees when she looks to the future. “I’m still in shock, the sadness is overwhelming. But I know I am strong, and I know I will be ok.”
