Tom Parker’s wife Kelsey reveals ‘people cross the road’ to avoid talking to her as she shares battle with grief

Kelsey Parker has spoken candidly about her battle with grief following the death of her husband, Tom Parker, who was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour in 2020.

The Wanted singer, from Bolton, was just 33 years when he lost his battle eight months ago, leaving behind his wife, Kelsey and their two young children, Bodhi, two, and Aurelia, three.

Kelsey, 32, is now rumoured to have moved on and found love with someone new, but still intends to keep wearing her wedding ring as a way to honour Tom’s love.

The former actress, spoke with The Sun’s Fabulous Magazine, saying: “In the UK, we don’t talk about grief. We don’t talk about death. It’s a taboo subject.

“Even when I see people, they don’t really want to talk to me about it. Honestly, people cross the road so they don’t have to talk to me.”

Kelsey said that people try to put themselves in the same situation, and in doing so can’t understand how she’s coping.

Kelsey explained that she would prefer a normal conversation and to continue with her life, but when people intentionally avoid her it becomes much harder.

“I want to say, “There is more to me than Tom being dead,” she added.

Kelsey is now starring in a new six-part documentary series, titled Life After Tom, on ITVBe. In the series, she hopes to encourage other people to openly talk about their own grief, whilst also keeping her late husband’s memory alive.

She opens up about Tom’s Diagnosis, which he received alone due to the coronavirus restrictions, and how she searched for medical treatments from around the world in a bid to try to find a ‘miracle’ cure.

Kelsey told The Times: “Even in the final days I was still trying to make a miracle happen. I needed to elevate him: he was so scared of death.”

Kelsey also looked to close friends, Kate and Rio Ferdinand for support, as Rio’s first wife Rebecca died from breast cancer in 2015, at just 34 years old.

She recalls some of Kate’s advice, saying: "I was talking to her [Kate] about how I want to get rid of our bed, but I said to her: ‘How are people going to look at me for that?’ If I do want to move forward, I’ve got to take these steps.”

Kate responded by reminding Kelsey not to worry about what anyone else thinks, and to do what’s right for you first and foremost.

Kelsey Parker: Life After Tom begins on Thursday at 9pm on ITVBe.