Jaymi Hensley has released a sensational statement announcing his departure from Union J, weeks after the group enraged fans by canceling their comeback tour.
The singer, 33, made the announcement on Tuesday night and took to Twitter to address his 309,000 followers.
In a lengthy post, Jaymi claimed he couldn’t “sit and look at the legacy I’ve spent ten years trying to perpetuate.”
He also thanked the band’s fans for their continued support, stating that it was the “main reason why I was such a driving force within the band”.
The post had not been acknowledged by fellow band members George Shelley, JJ Hamblett and Josh Cuthbert or even the band’s official Twitter account at the time of publication.
End of an era: Union J’s Jaymi Hensley (2L) has left the band sparking feud claims as bandmates (LR) JJ Hamblett, George Shelley and Josh Cuthbert disapproved of his departure
His full statement read: “To all Union J fans, it is with the greatest heart that I must say that I am no longer continuing my journey as a member of Union J.
“Since day one, our family of fans has brought me love, light and support and has been the main reason why I am such a driving force within the band.”
Referring to their sold-out reunion show at the London Palladium, he continued, “Last year was the best year of my life when I got back on stage with the guys and in front of all of you again.
“I hoped and dreamed of all the possibilities after that, but this didn’t happen for several reasons, which is why, out of love and respect for the fans’ family and my integrity as an artist, I can’t sit still looking at the legacy I’ve tried . to sustain the decline for another decade.
“I will continue to carry artistry, integrity and creativity as my driving force, but now is the time to focus the energy I have consistently put into Union J into myself and create art and music that we can all enjoy together.
“I really love you, love you forever.”
The band was formed in 2011, originally as a trio known as Triple J, consisting of JJ, Jaymi and Josh, but when he auditioned for The X Factor the following year, George joined the group at the request of the judges.
The renamed Union J then placed fourth in the competition and later signed a recording contract with Sony.
They were initially signed to RCA Records and released their first single in June 2013.
George left the group in 2016 and was replaced by Stereo Kicks singer and Ex On The Beach star Casey Johnson, but bosses soon dropped him.
Two years later, Josh also left the band, with the remaining stars, JJ and Jaymi sending a series of angry messages to the star.
Awkward: In a lengthy post, Jaymi claimed he couldn’t “sit and look at the legacy I’ve spent ten years trying to perpetuate”
Ignored: The post was not acknowledged by fellow band members George, JJ and Josh or even the band’s official Twitter account at the time of publication
In his sad announcement, Josh wrote, “My journey with Union J was one I will never forget, and one I will cherish forever. But after seven years I feel like now is the right time to leave the band.
“I want to apologize to my fans if I’ve let anyone down, but I have to do what feels right for me and follow my heart. I’ve decided to leave, because I’ve lost my individual opportunities in entertainment and music. want to keep developing…
“I have so many great memories of them and have friends for life in the boys and wish JJ and Jaymi the best for the future. Thank you for your continued support, it is thanks to all of you that I am where I am today and you all mean everything to me.”
His bandmates tweeted and deleted a host of irate messages in response to the news, in photos taken by a fan before they were taken down.
The official account released messages saying, “It should have been handled differently. This statement should have come to you as a joint statement.
“Unfortunately, that decision was made again in personal matters… There is no problem at all, things just should have been handled differently. Not cool.’
Jaymi and JJ continued the band as a duo before the group officially broke up in 2019.
They announced a reunion concert last year, with Josh and George rejoining the group for a one-off show.
They were supposed to do another comeback tour in May, but fans were outraged last month after they canceled the tour without any public announcement.
They would perform in Newcastle, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham and Liverpool.
But when she took to Twitter, one fan was left furious after she received an email that her ticket to the concert at the Liverpool Empire Theater had been refunded.
The email read: ‘Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, the show’s promoters have made the difficult decision to cancel the performance that was due to take place on June 3, 2023.
“We understand the disappointment this will cause and apologize for any inconvenience.”
The fan lashed out at the band, captioning the post: “Their silence on all of this is actually disrespectful.”
Union J later claimed they were told to shut up after their shows were cancelled, and Jaymi claimed it had been “the worst weekend.”
Heartthrobs: The band was formed in 2011, originally as a trio known as Triple J, consisting of JJ, Jaymi and Josh, but when he auditioned for The X Factor the following year, George joined at the request of the judges (pictured with Louis Walsh)
Tension: Fans were outraged last month after they canceled the tour, Union J later claimed they were told to shut up and Jaymi claimed it had been ‘the worst weekend’
They released a statement saying: ‘We were strongly advised not to say anything, but we now realize that this was not the best decision or advice.
“We are truly sorry for any disturbance this has caused. We will bring you more news as soon as possible.
“We really love and appreciate our fans more than anything and playing live for you is what we live for.
“Again, a million apologies, this has been a rough weekend for all of us and you too. We’ll make it right soon.’