Former G.R.L. singer Lauren Bennett‘s cause of death at age 36 has been revealed.
An assistant coroner told the Medway Coroners’ Court at an inquest hearing on Friday, October 30, that the “Party Rock Anthem” singer died by suicide on May 29, according to the Metro.
Bennett had told her partner, Kenny Wormald, that she was going for a walk at around 9 a.m. local time on May 29 but never returned home, per assistant coroner Jyoti Gill. Wormald and Lauren’s father, Richard Bennett, used the “Find My Phone” app to track Lauren’s location, ultimately finding her dead in a nearby woodland.
Gill confirmed that Lauren had been involuntarily hospitalized for “substantial psychological suffering” in January and had since “continued to report symptoms of distress regarding the effects of prescribed medication.” Lauren reportedly had a mental health service meeting days before her death.
The coroner’s report also revealed that Lauren had been diagnosed with Fragile X Syndrome, an inherited genetic disorder that can cause medical abnormalities. The condition can be characterized by experiencing anxiety, intellectual disabilities, attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder and learning disabilities, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Us has reached out to U.K. authorities for comment.
Members of Lauren’s family were present in the Medway Coroners’ Court on Friday, with her father, Richard, recalling that his daughter had lived an “amazing life.”
Richard previously suggested that Lauren had experienced “a severe reaction to a prescribed medication” when he announced her death on July 7.
“It is with a broken heart that I share the loss of my beautiful and talented daughter, @laurenbennett, the love of my life and my pride and joy,” Richard wrote via Instagram at the time. “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.”
He noted that Lauren’s family “rallied around her and did everything [they] could to support her” when she went through a mental health crisis in January, though he alleged that “medical professionals and NHS services failed to treat her appropriately during her time of greatest need.”
“Lauren was deeply loved and will be missed every day for the rest of our lives,” Richard wrote. “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.”
Lauren was perhaps best known for her featured vocals on electronic dance music duo LMFAO’s 2011 hit “Party Rock Anthem.” She joined choreographer Robin Antin‘s group G.R.L. along with Emmalyn Estrada, Natasha Slayton, Paula Van Oppen and Simone Battle that same year, scoring a U.K. hit with “Ugly Heart” in 2014.
G.R.L. initially broke up in the wake of Battle’s death by suicide at age 25 in 2014 before reforming with newcomer Jazzy Mejia in 2016 for sporadic projects. Estrada, 34, Van Oppen, 37, and Slayton, 38, penned a joint statement honoring Lauren following the announcement of her death.
“It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our beloved Lauren,” G.R.L wrote. “Our hearts are broken, and we cannot begin to express how much she meant to us.”
Their statement continued, “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 be in our hearts.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
