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Jaymi Hensley has spoken out following his departure from Union J in a tell-all interview.
The pop star, 33, was part of the band from the beginning alongside JJ Hamblett, George Shelley, and Josh Cuthbert, having shot to fame on The X Factor in 2011 before officially disbanding in 2019.
Union J were due to reunite this year, but the plug was quietly pulled on tour plans, leaving fans both disappointed and confused, with Jaymi releasing a statement shortly after to confirm he would be leaving the group.
At the time, he said on social media that, despite having the best time in the band, he had to prioritise his ‘integrity’ as an artist and didn’t want to watch Union J’s legacy ‘decay’ any further.
So, in his first interview since going solo, Jaymi exclusively tells Metro.co.uk about his reasons for bidding his bandmates farewell – admitting he has no idea if they are happy with his decision.
‘I’ve always had an idea of what I wanted to say if that situation was ever going to occur, because I think you have to be prepared. But it was a last-minute choice,’ he begins, of announcing his exit from the band.
‘No decision is ever made without multiple factors playing into that but it was an amalgamation of a lot of things happening recently and over the last 10 years.
‘It all just came to a head with me, emotionally and mentally, and I had to do something solely for myself. I stand by my decision.
‘A lot of people won’t ever know or fully understand it, because they’re not living my life. Not everyone’s gonna agree with it, I don’t know if the boys do or don’t or how they feel about it, but then again that’s not really my concern at the moment. It’s just about looking after myself.’
On his time in the band – who released singles such as Carry You and Beautiful Life – Jaymi admits he was no longer ‘a person that I wanted to be’, having felt like he was ‘compromising’ his ability to ‘be the best version of myself’.
‘I felt like I would’ve had to compromise my own integrity to continue in the project. I can’t do that anymore,’ he confesses.
‘All of us (the other Union J members) have done that and I stand by the boys’ decisions over the years when they’ve decided to take a step back. I have a big history with Union J, I’ve never taken a step back, even when it wasn’t actively happening.
‘The boys and fans and labels have said, “You’ve always been Mr Union J’, and as much as that’s a compliment and I’ve always wanted the best for Union J and driven to make it work because I love it, as hard as you try, when something is no longer viable, you give up part of yourself.’
Jaymi proceeds to say the pandemic in particular was a ‘massive wake-up call’ for him, as he realised Union J wasn’t ‘changing the world’ in the grand scheme of things, which pushed him to take the big step of leaving.
‘I want to move forward in my life so the time felt right as Union J wasn’t something that was healthy for myself or the other boys or for the fans to be attached to anymore.
‘I had to make a decision that was purely selfish, but selfish as in putting myself first, and I don’t believe I’ve done that a lot in my career.’
He adds that they will ‘ultimately’ understand why he had to leave but, for now, they’ll have ‘different opinions’ on whether it was right.
Jaymi has had messages from ‘a couple’ of the guys, though, but he’s not expecting any major communications for a while.
‘I’ve spoken to a couple of the boys, but I’m not doing this because I’m an idiot and I want success on my own – success for me is well-being and feeling secure. As much as Union J has been a part of my life, it’s the one part of my life that’s had so much insecurity and uncertainty.’
So, what’s next?
Well, Jaymi makes no secret of his gratitude for the Union J fans who have carried them (pardon the pun) over the years, but he’s looking forward to spreading his wings now, having already linked up with producers and writers, while also exploring acting roles.
‘I’ve got 33 years of life experiences that, as a singer and a musician, I’ve never put pen to paper about, because they’re not right for Union J… my ex relationships as a teenager, or my family dynamics, or my 13-year relationship, but I’ve since started writing and it’s just been flowing.’
‘Yeah, I’m sad with how the situation has gone, but I’m also at peace,’ he states proudly.
‘I’ve now got the freedom to go out there and figure out what it is that makes me tick as a person. I’ve never been more excited for the future.
‘At the minute, I’m unemployed, I’ve given up my job! Am I having a midlife crisis? Am I gonna become a yoga instructor? Who knows! But I’m eternally grateful for the people who have supported me, and those who haven’t supported me for driving me.’
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