Singer Lauren Bennett, known for her vocals on LMFAO’s 2011 hit “Party Rock Anthem,” died by suicide on May 29 at age 36 in woodland near her home in Kent, England, according to an October inquest at Kent and Medway Coroners’ Court.
Bennett told her husband, actor and dancer Kenny Wormald, that she was going for a morning walk around 9 a.m. on May 29. When she did not return, Wormald and Bennett’s father, Richard Bennett, used a phone-location feature to search for her and eventually found her body in a wooded area near their home.
- Assistant coroner Jyoti Gill concluded at the October inquest that Bennett died by suicide after experiencing substantial psychological suffering.
- The singer had been receiving care from mental health services and faced an involuntary hospitalization during a mental health crisis in January.
- Bennett is survived by her husband, Kenny Wormald, and their daughter, following a career that included girl groups Paradiso Girls and G.R.L.
Testimony presented at the inquest detailed Bennett’s final months and the circumstances surrounding her death. Gill said that Bennett had experienced significant psychological distress following her involuntary hospitalization in January.
The hearing was told that Bennett had continued to report distress regarding the effects of prescribed medication and had met with mental health professionals days before her death. The inquest also said that Bennett had been diagnosed with Fragile X syndrome, a genetic condition that can affect learning and development.
The reported concerns about medication were part of the evidence presented at the inquest, though the findings do not establish that medication caused Bennett’s death. Her death came more than a decade after the death of fellow G.R.L. member Simone Battle, who died by suicide in 2014.
Bennett rose to international prominence through her appearance on LMFAO’s chart-topping 2011 song “Party Rock Anthem,” which also featured GoonRock. The track topped charts in several countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, and Australia. Her father remembered her achievements during the inquest, describing the singer as having lived an amazing life.
Bennett signed a recording contract at 17 and moved from Kent to the United States to pursue her music career. She initially performed with the girl group Paradiso Girls, whose 2009 single “Patron Tequila” featured rapper Lil Jon. After the group disbanded, Bennett continued recording music and later joined G.R.L., a pop group formed by producer Robin Antin in 2013. Bennett returned to the group during reunions in 2016 and 2020.
Bennett’s former bandmates publicly announced her death in July, paying tribute to her life and the memories they shared. “Our hearts are broken, and we cannot begin to express how much she meant to us,” the group said in a joint statement, according to reports published by the Express.
The singers also remembered Bennett’s warmth, laughter, and friendship, stating that they would forever cherish the love and countless memories she gave them.
