‘I really wish I had been there for Caz’
Olly Murs paid a touching tribute to his late friend Caroline Flack during a show in London over the weekend.
The singer, who shot to fame after appearing on the 2009 series of the X Factor, was performing at the O2 Arena on Saturday night in London on the latest leg of his Marry Me tour.
In a pause from his upbeat pop songs, Olly took a moment to perform a touching rendition of Sweet Caroline in memory of his friend, Flack.
He told the crowd that losing her had been one of the “toughest” things he’d ever been through, and admitted to having regrets about “not being there” for his friend.
Flack died in February 2020 after taking her own life, at the age of 40.
She had presented the Xtra Factor and the X Factor with Murs, and was also the host of Love Island.
Olly urged his fans to reach out to anyone they know who might be struggling. As he performed Sweet Caroline, photos of Flack were displayed behind him, with fans holding up their phone torches.
The singer was overcome with emotion, and crouched down and rubbed his eyes as the song came to an end, the MailOnline reports.
Olly said: “Like I said earlier, it’s been an incredible four or five years and I know it’s been a really tough, crazy four or five years for every single one of you in this room and it’s going to be hard for me to do this but, in 2020, I lost a very good friend of mine, someone that I love very, very much.
“Her name is Caroline Flack and it is one of the toughest things that has happened in my life and it is really sad to see someone so amazing leave us, but she has never left and she is always in my heart.
“And I really didn’t know what I could go through, that whole process for me was so difficult, and I had never been through anything like that before, and so many questions that I wanted answered and I am never, ever going to get them answers, but how I deal with that grief and something I always wanted to do and at every gig that I do for the rest of my career, I am always going to dedicate a song to Caroline.’
He continued: “I just want to say, for anyone in the room that is struggling right now or anyone you know is struggling then please give them a call because I really wish that I had been there for Caz.
“I wish that she had called me. I didn’t know how bad it was and if you know someone, please give them a call.
“But this one is my favourite song. It is my version of it. Ladies and Gentlemen, this is Sweet Caroline.”
A number of fans took to Twitter after the show to praise Olly for his beautiful tribute.
“An incredible tribute to Caroline Flack in the show, I don’t think there was a dry eye in the room”, one person wrote.
Another wrote: ‘Shoutout to @ollymurs for holding it together during his tribute to beautiful Caroline Flack last night because I did not. Sobbed for a solid 10 minutes after. She is so loved and missed.’
One fan wrote: “Olly Murs sung Sweet Caroline as a dedication to Caroline Flack and it broke me. Such a lovely tribute.”
Murs has been paying tribute to Caroline throughout his tour.
In a recent Glasgow show, he said: “God, I just wish she was here. I thought I would dedicate a song to her at every show for the rest of my career.”
If you or anyone you know is struggling with mental health or suicidal thoughts you can get help and advice at the following places:
- Samaritans – 116 123
- Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) – 0800 58 58 58, or use webchat
- Shout Crisis Text Line – Text “SHOUT” to 85258
- NHS – 111
Related links:
Prince Harry opens up about “tainted” relationship with Caroline Flack
After Love Island: Will Caroline Flack’s death change our online culture?
Olly Murs slammed over ‘misogynistic’ lyrics in ‘shocking’ new single
