Here’s the thing that gets me: Joey says his mum was hilarious. She was the life of the party. She loved a laugh. Sound like anyone you know?
That energy he has on TOWIE or I’m a Celebrity? That’s her. He’s basically channelling his mum every time he says something daft.
Joey Essex says his 'heart secretly aches every day' for mum 20yrs
He’s also got her name tattooed on his chest. And he’s talked about how she’d be so mortified by his fame. “She’d be like, ‘Joseph, what are you doing?’” He laughs about it now.
The Grief That Never Really Ends
Grief is weird, right? It’s not linear. Joey still has hard days, even twenty years later. He once said he breaks down on the anniversary every single year.
And that’s okay. It’s normal. We’re taught that time heals all wounds, but that’s bull. Time just teaches you to carry the wound better.
He’s also spoken about how he struggles with trust in relationships. No wonder, really. If your first love—your mum—leaves you suddenly, how do you ever feel safe again?
