Lauren Bennett has sadly passed away. She was only 36 years old.
Her former group, G.R.L., which included members Emmalyn Estrada, Natasha Slayton and Paula van Oppen, announced her death on Instagram on Monday. They wrote in an emotional statement:
“It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our beloved Lauren. Our hearts are broken and we cannot begin to express how much she meant to us. We will forever cherish the love, laughter and countless memories she gave us. Her beautiful spirit touched so many lives, and she will be deeply missed and forever loved. Rest peacefully, sweet Lauren. You will always be in our hearts.”
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No further details about Lauren’s passing were shared in the message, including how she died. However, her death is currently under investigation in England. UK authorities told TMZ on Tuesday that the pop star died on May 29 in Meopham, less than a month before her birthday, and a death investigation, led by the Kent and Medway Coroner Service, was launched on June 12. And unfortunately, it could be months before we get any answers about what happened to Lauren. Police said the investigation will proceed until October 30.
Although there is no official information from law enforcement or the coroner about Lauren’s death yet, her father, Richard Bennett, shared some insight about her tragic final moments in a tribute on Instagram. The dad claimed the singer suffered “a severe reaction to a prescribed medication” months before she died, and that the family is not suspicious about her death whatsoever at this time:
“Months before her death, Lauren experienced a severe reaction to a prescribed medication. As a family, we all rallied around her and did everything we could to support her. We have no suspicions regarding the circumstances of her death, only deep disappointment that, for five months, medical professionals and NHS services failed to treat her appropriately during her time of greatest need.”
Richard didn’t get into the specifics about the medication. However, he went on to praise Lauren, “the love of my life and my pride and joy,” in the rest of the post. The father wrote:
“Lauren was an incredible person and artist: creative, talented, funny, and as humble as she was beautiful. She was deeply loved by all who knew her and made a lasting impact on countless lives through her music, her kindness, and the way she made people feel. From an early age, it was clear that Lauren had a very special gift. She began performing professionally at just 12 years old, and watching her grow into the artist she became was one of the greatest joys of my life. Her achievements in the music industry were beyond our wildest dreams and continue to make me so proud.”
Richard continued:
“Lauren was deeply loved and will be missed every day for the rest of our lives. I hope she will be remembered for her remarkable achievements, her beautiful music, and the incredible person she was. Her legacy lives on through her daughter, her family, and through the music she leaves behind. As we navigate this unimaginable loss, we kindly ask for privacy and respect as our family grieves. We are deeply grateful for the love, support, and kindness shown by friends, fans, and everyone else who has reached during this incredibly difficult time.”
How heartbreaking…
For those who don’t know, Lauren’s career started at only 18 years old. She was in the band Paradiso Girls, formed by Pussycat Dolls founder Robin Antin, in 2007 before going solo for a few years. During that time, she collaborated on the megahit Party Rock Anthem with LMFAO in 2011. Listen (below):
In 2013, Lauren joined G.R.L., which had hits including Wild Wild Love with Pitbull, Vacation, and Ugly Heart. They disbanded in 2015 following the death of their bandmate Simone Battle. She sadly died by suicide. Since then, Lauren continued to work on music. Her last single was called Hurricane about her mother’s and friend’s struggles with mental health.
According to TMZ, a private memorial service was held in London with Lauren’s family and friends, including her former band members from G.R.L. and Paradiso Girls, over a week ago. We’re sending them all nothing but love during this incredibly difficult time. May Lauren rest in peace.
[Image via LMFAOVEVO/YouTube, C.M. Wiggins/WENN]