Jesy Nelson's ex-fiancé Zion Foster has addressed claims he is 'abandoning' his daughters following their SMA diagnosis
Kimberly Nhundu Under 35s Screen Time reporter and Yasmin Vince TV Reporter
18:37, 15 Jul 2026
Jesy Nelson's ex-fiancé Zion Foster has insisted he is still involved in his daughters' lives, despite his split from the Little Mix star.
The young father, 27, welcomed twin daughters Ocean Jade and Story Monroe with Jesy in May 2025. The girls were later diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a rare genetic condition that causes muscle weakness that worsens over time.
Zion previously confessed to feeling "out of his depth" after hearing the diagnosis, but he has now clarified that his earlier statement didn't mean he's abandoning his children.
Before the launch of Jesy's new documentary, Jesy Nelson: Life Changing, Zion shared a lengthy statement on Instagram.
"I've stayed quiet because my focus has always been where it should be, on my children," he started.
"Reading some of the comments over the last few days has been incredibly painful because they simply aren't true. When I said I was 'out of my depth' I wasn't saying I was walking away from my children or abandoning my responsibilities as a father."
He went on: "I was talking about the overwhelming reality of suddenly facing a rare and complex medical diagnosis that I knew nothing about. I was being honest. I didn't have the knowledge. I didn't have the experience. I was scared. I was trying to process emotions that no parent ever hopes to face.
"Being out of my depth meant I was learning. It meant I was trying to understand. I never meant I didn't love my daughters or that I wasn't going to be there for them. I love my girls more than words could ever express. They are my world and always will be," reports the Mirror.
Zion then revealed that it was actually Jesy's decision to end their relationship, not his. While he respects his ex's choice, the father-of-two has said their split didn't change his relationship with his daughters.
"I remain committed to my daughters in every way I possibly can," he stated.
He revealed he's attending every medical appointment, learning about their condition and searching for ways to support them.
The fellow musician added: "Being their father is the greatest responsibility and privilege of my life. This journey has been heart-breaking for all of us," he added. "Nobody prepares you for news like this, and we're all navigating it in our own way."
Zion emphasised that he shares "pain alongside Jesy" and desires the best outcome for his daughters. He urged people not to misinterpret his honesty.
"Please don't mistake vulnerability for abandonment. Asking for help or admitting you don't have all the answers doesn't make someone a band father. It makes them human."
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Jesy, 35, has been actively pushing for their daughters' condition to be incorporated into the blood spot screening all newborns get, ensuring early detection and prevention of the most severe consequences.
Without early identification and intervention, SMA1 can drastically restrict a youngster's mobility. The NHS states it additionally causes weakened muscles, complications with breathing and swallowing, muscular tremors, plus bones and joint difficulties.
Her upcoming Prime Video documentary, details Jesy's battle to reform UK laws on newborn screenings.
The film has been described as a "raw and powerful" examination of how the artist "comes to terms with what the diagnosis means for her girls, adapts to the everyday challenges of their conditions and finds her footing as a single mother after the break up of her relationship".
Jesy Nelson: Life Changing will be shown on Prime Video from July 17