Lauren Bennett, a British singer known for her collaborations with LMFAO and her role in the girl group GRL, has died at the age of 36. Bennett passed away in Kent, England, on May 29, according to local coroner records.
Her former GRL bandmates confirmed her death in a statement on Monday. Bennett's father, Richard, has spoken about his daughter's health in the months leading up to her passing, stating she experienced a severe reaction to a prescribed medication. He expressed deep disappointment that medical professionals and NHS services allegedly failed to treat her appropriately during her time of greatest need.
Bennett is survived by her daughter, Harlow, aged six, and her partner, actor Kenny Wormald. Wormald, known for his role in the 2011 remake of "Footloose," is a co-owner of the dance studio Playground.
Bennett first entered the music industry with the short-lived girl group The Paradiso Girls, which released the single "Patron Tequila" in 2009. Her most significant musical success came in 2011 with LMFAO's chart-topping hit "Party Rock Anthem," which spent six weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100. She later became a member of GRL, a group formed by choreographer Robin Antin as a reboot of The Pussycat Dolls.
As part of GRL, Bennett sang on the song "Vacation" for "The Smurfs 2" soundtrack and collaborated with Pitbull on the 2014 track "Wild Wild Love." The group's biggest hit was "Ugly Heart," which reached number two on the Australian charts.
This is not the first tragedy for the band. In 2014, GRL bandmate Simone Battle died by suicide at the age of 25. Bennett had spoken about the profound grief following Battle's death in 2015, recalling the shock of the news after rehearsals the day before.
A formal inquest into Bennett's death has been scheduled for October 30, which will investigate the exact circumstances surrounding her passing. Richard Bennett stated that while the family has no suspicions regarding the circumstances of her death, they are deeply disappointed with the care his daughter received.
"Lauren was an incredible person and artist: creative, talented, funny, and as humble as she was beautiful," her father wrote in a statement. "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."
Her GRL bandmates, Emmalyn Estrada, Natasha Slayton, and Paula Van Oppen, shared their heartbreak, stating, "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."