Zion Foster, once the fiancé of Jesy Nelson, has publicly pushed back against allegations that he has deserted their twin daughters.
Earlier in the year, Ocean Jade and Story Monroe, the children of the former couple, were diagnosed with a severe form of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a rare and progressive muscle-wasting condition that can be life-threatening if not treated.
Foster recently acknowledged feeling overwhelmed by the news, but on Wednesday he turned to social media to clarify his remarks and defend his role as a father.
“I’ve kept quiet because my focus has always been where it belongs—on my children,” he wrote on Instagram.
“Reading some of the remarks over the past few days has been deeply painful because they aren’t true. When I said I felt ‘out of my depth,’ I wasn’t indicating I was stepping away from my children or neglecting my duties as a father.”
He issued the statement ahead of the premiere of Nelson’s latest television project, Jesy Nelson: Life Changing.
The 60-minute documentary, slated to stream on Prime Video starting 17 July, will follow the ex-Little Mix star in the wake of the SMA diagnosis and her ensuing efforts to raise awareness about the condition.
Although Foster has kept a low profile in recent months, his Instagram post clearly signalled that he remains devoted to his children, who were born prematurely in May 2025.
“Being out of my depth meant I was learning,” the musician elaborated. “It meant I was trying to understand. I never meant to imply I didn’t love my daughters or that I wouldn’t be there for them. I love my girls more than words can express. They are my world and always will be.”
In the lengthy message, Foster also asserted that Nelson was the one who ended their relationship earlier this year.
After their split, Foster insisted he has continued to attend medical appointments, educate himself about SMA, and support his children in every possible way following the heartbreaking diagnosis.
“Please don’t mistake vulnerability for abandonment,” he urged. “Asking for help or admitting you don’t have all the answers doesn’t make someone a bad father. It makes them human.”
Nelson has emerged as a vocal advocate for SMA awareness since the diagnosis.
As she promotes her new documentary, the 35-year-old singer pledged to persist in campaigning for improved SMA screening procedures.
“This is truly the most heartbreaking series I’ve ever had to make, and I urge all of you to watch it,” Nelson wrote on Instagram this week.
“No future babies born with SMA should have to endure a life like this. I am immensely grateful for your ongoing support, and I will continue to speak out until real change happens.”
