Kelsey Parker, who was married to The Wanted singer Tom Parker, has hit out at trolls who have critisised her for going public with her new relationship.
Kelsey and Tom were together for 13 years and married for three before his death aged 33 in March 2022, caused by an inoperable brain tumour.
Kelsey spoke about her new partner in an interview over the weekend as part of publicity for her upcoming memoir, Kelsey Parker: With And Without You, which documents the first 12 months of her life since her husband's death.
She took to Instagram on Sunday to defend her choice to go public about her new relationship.
Posting a photo of herself and boyfriend Seán on her Instagram story to her 419,00 followers, Parker wrote, "Tom will always be the love of my life and if I could choose I'd choose him and the life we were building together.
"But someone somewhere had other plans and I just needed to get through the long days."
She then spoke about new boyfriend, saying, "Seán is a wonderful man who has so far proved to be kind, caring, supportive, patient, and understanding.
"He is wonderful company and he makes me laugh when I'd otherwise be sad. He makes me feel warm when I'd otherwise be cold and he is helping me with the kids at times when I'd otherwise be alone.
"I don't know why people find our relationship hard to understand. I want to be alone and I've found someone who is fun to be around so I want to be around them."
Parker also posted a montage of photos of her and the late singer, writing, "I've been incredibly unlucky to lose Tom but I’ve had a lifetime of blessings in meeting him, our relationship, our marriage, the life we built together, our beautiful babies.
"New things are happening and while I mourn what I’ve lost I’m looking ahead," she said.
"Life is magical. Hard. Complicated. If my story reminds you to be grateful for exactly what is in front of you right now than that itself is a blessing."
Tom Parker was diagnosed with stage four glioblastoma in September 2020 after suffering a seizure.
He was best known for being a member of the boy band The Wanted, who enjoyed a successful career with 10 UK Top 10 singles and three Top 10 albums.
He met future wife Kelsey in a nightclub in 2009 had the pair went on to have two children, Aurelia, four, and Bodhi, two.
