Nathan Sykes of chart-topping boyband The Wanted has broken his silence on the long-rumoured secret feud that fractured the group, admitting to a period of 'difficult times' where members were not on speaking terms.
The Feud Behind the Fame
In a candid interview, Sykes confirmed that behind the scenes of their runaway success with hits like 'Glad You Came', tensions were rumbling. The band, originally formed in 2009, split in 2014 at a point where communication had completely broken down between the members—Sykes, Jay McGuinness, Max George, Siva Kaneswaran, and the late Tom Parker.
Despite a much-publicised reconciliation and reunion tour in 2021, undertaken after Tom Parker's brain tumour diagnosis, Sykes has now definitively ruled out ever getting the band back together again. This comes despite the fact that Max George and Siva Kaneswaran have since toured as 'The Wanted 2.0'.
A Healing Experience and Lasting Bonds
Sykes described the 2021 reunion tour as a profoundly 'healing experience', particularly due to the precious time it allowed the group to spend with Tom Parker before his tragic death at age 33 in 2022. 'I wouldn't swap that time for anything,' Sykes stated emotionally.
He also clarified that not all relationships within the band were strained. He revealed he maintains an 'amazing relationship' with Jay McGuinness, who was present at his wedding to Charlotte Burke last month. Sykes believes their close bond was natural, pointing out their similar ages when the band started; he was 16 and McGuinness was 19, while the others were 21.
Navigating the Past and Moving Forward
Reflecting on the band's complex history, Sykes shared a philosophical perspective. 'Looking back can be really happy, but it can be challenging as well,' he told The Sun. 'I think being content in where you are at in life and accepting things because they've happened and then navigating through them, that's part of growing up.'
He insisted there is no 'bad blood' on his part, humorously adding that his poor skills with technology would prevent him from holding a grudge online. 'If anyone rang me tomorrow and said, "I need a favour", I think all of us would just be on the end of the phone,' he claimed.
The musician's admissions follow keen-eyed fans noticing that he and Max George had seemingly unfollowed each other on social media, reigniting speculation of a rift. One fan detailed on Reddit how members had unfollowed each other in the past, only to reconnect after Parker's diagnosis was announced.
This revelation from Sykes arrives as Max George recovers from recent heart surgery, which required an emergency pacemaker to be fitted after his mother noticed he had 'turned blue'.
