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Original poster

Joey Essex: grief and me

23 replies

the80sweregreat · 03/06/2021 22:04

So sad. I don't know much about this young man, but he came across well and he was just so honest.
I hope he can find some peace.

OP posts:
Whatsnewpussyhat · 03/06/2021 22:09

Nice to see him be himself rather than the persona he usually puts on.

Glad he got something out of the therapy. Amazing he hasn't ended up all drugs and alcohol to cover it all up.

Original poster
the80sweregreat · 03/06/2021 22:12

I thought that , he would start to take drugs or drink , but I don't think he has which is good.
He looked so lost, but he has a strong family there which must help too.

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accentdusoleil · 03/06/2021 22:20

So sad . Heartbreaking situation for any child. Explains why he chased fame

Great to see him develop through out the hour

BillieSpain · 03/06/2021 22:32

I was touched by this.

iduno · 03/06/2021 22:43

It is so sad. I wonder if it was made worse because his mum committed suicide. A child would not understand that and would their mum chose to leave them, heartbreaking.

Nice to see him be more himself too.

KitKatKit · 03/06/2021 22:46

What a tough childhood he has had.
I have been watching him on TV since TOWIE and so much of his personality makes sense now.
Hope he is able to get closure and make peace with this awful tragedy that he has experienced.

OhWhyNot · 04/06/2021 00:29

I found it really moving and honest

It’s a long journey for him but he has made a start and he didn’t give up when he was struggling which takes strength

It’s was so sad when he said my mum loved me but she left me.

Whatsnewpussyhat · 04/06/2021 00:43

I found it uncomfortable watching the home movies near the end. You could almost feel his mum's underlying sadness in some of them. She hardly smiled in any of them.

Rummikub · 04/06/2021 04:31

I thought that too. That she looked so sad and lost in the videos.

accentdusoleil · 04/06/2021 07:43

I missed the beginning bit: did they explain why she committed suicide? Had there been a long history of depression ?

Springchickpea · 04/06/2021 07:48

I didn’t see this and don’t know much about him but I do remember feeling ever so sad when he was on I’m a celebrity and said nobody had taught him how to blow his nose (because his mum died when he was young) 😖

Such a basic bodily function, and heartbreaking in that context.

kerstina · 04/06/2021 10:56

I saw it and cried at times . I love TOWIE the early series and you realise in that how vulnerable he was watching his relationship with Sam Faires play out . I also wish they had discussed his mother's depression as I think that would have given Joey more answers as to why she could leave him . She wasn't in her right mind . I hope he has been reassured there .
I thought his mom had cancer was shocked when it said suicide .
A strong , sensitive, young man , beautiful and successful . I am glad he has a strong supportive family around him.

Whatsnewpussyhat · 04/06/2021 13:24

I also wish they had discussed his mother's depression as I think that would have given Joey more answers as to why she could leave him

I think that would've been very difficult because it would mean delving into his parents relationship too, (not saying it was his dad's fault).

I think he just feels like why wasn't he enough for her not to go, so in turn he doesn't think he's enough for any woman to love. He seems like a genuinely nice man.

user1471543094 · 04/06/2021 14:43

I always loved Joey in the early TOWIE days - you could see how vulnerable he was.

I also thought his mum looked sad in the videos. She was stunningly beautiful.
It is so sad that she felt she had to make that choice.

The Daily Mail tv critic review about it was very harsh - calling him vain, shallow and implying that his sister and cousin were only one as the were reality tv personalities as well.
Even for the DM I thought the article as a bit off.

user1471543094 · 04/06/2021 14:44

*only on the show

IHaveBrilloHair · 04/06/2021 14:49

I've always loved him, poor guy's been through so much but always seems likeable.

HollowTalk · 04/06/2021 14:49

I found it incredibly moving. Those photos of him as a young boy were heartbreaking. I didn't take to his dad, though he did say his dad was great and he spent a lot of time with him. He seemed more at ease with women. I felt for his cousin, too - her mum had left her when she was three years old and then Joey's mum had become a surrogate mother to her and then killed herself just a few years later. It must have been devastating for all of them.

Original poster
the80sweregreat · 04/06/2021 15:13

He did seem happier around his Nan and his cousin. His sister has obviously dealt with it a lot better , but maybe that's because women tend to talk more about their feelings with other people maybe?
He seemed a bit more accepting after his therapy, I did think it helped him. I hope he'll heal in time.

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Leaveitonthefloordrobe · 10/06/2021 22:30

I've just watched this and found it very moving. The fact he and still refers to his mum and mummy just made me 😢 because of course he was so young and she was "mummy". I hope he can find peace.

Thisisworsethananticpated · 13/06/2021 10:00

It’s ever so sad
His poor mama , she must have been desperately depressed

Yeah I’ve always had a soft spot for him too

IHaveBrilloHair · 13/06/2021 13:15

My BF can't understand why I love Joey Essex so much, he's like, "but he's dim, you don't gel with dim people".
I do though, he just seems so thoroughly nice, with a vulnerable side.
I want to make him soup!

Leaveitonthefloordrobe · 14/06/2021 12:42

I agree. He seems like a really lovely young man. And having endured so much pain in his life, it's little wonder he hides behind a persona.

Ktownsy · 05/11/2024 20:59

I’ve just watched this and it is heartbreaking seeing Joey talking about his Mum now and seeing him as a little kid - how anyone could be. Negative about him I really don’t know - so lovely he has his family - I didn’t like the therapist maybe the way it was cut but he kept saying, you have to grow up & let her go - thats crap, he doesn’t he just needs more info on why and as others said before, understand depression and how that suicidal person thinks their kids are better off without them …
while I’m writing this that Bludy therapist still saying to Joey are you afraid of letting her go - omg it doesn’t have to be one or the other Joey dear. 💔

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