Louis Tomlinson’s sister Lottie warns people not to ‘grieve alone’ following death of mother and sibling

'Some try to deal with it themselves but it’s really important that you don’t go through these things alone,' said the 21-year-old

(Rex Features)

Louis Tomlinson’s sister Lottie has spoken out about grieving for their mother and sister warning others not to grieve alone, as you can “get yourself into a dark place”.

Appearing on Lorraine Kelly’s ITV show on Monday, Tomlinson said: “I feel like I’ve got to a good point with my grief so to be able to pass that on to people helps me.”

The 21-year-old, who has recently become an ambassador for the Sue Ryder bereavement support charity, said: “Some try to deal with it themselves but it’s really important that you don’t go through these things alone.

“That’s how you can get yourself in a dark place. It just ends up getting built up inside you and eventually you’re going to explode.”

Tomlinson credited her older brother, former One Direction singer Louis, with supporting her through the double tragedy. “Louis is very good, he’s very supportive,” she said.

Their mother Johannah Deakin died of leukaemia in December 2016 at the age of 43. Then in March 2019, their younger sister, Felicite, died aged 18, after suffering a suspected cardiac arrest.

Tomlinson said she worried particularly about people grieving during lockdown: “It will be so hard,” she explained. “So it’s really an important time now [to talk].”

“It really does help with the grieving process to go and see someone to talk to and be more open about it,” she added.

The make-up artist said that due to the death of her mother, she was able to cope much better with the death of Felicite last year.

“[I] had already dealt with [grief]. I had picked up good coping mechanisms and also got extra help when my sister died instead of when mum died.”

At the time of his mother's death, Louis Tomlinson said: “I used to lean on my mum for a lot of things - anytime I needed advice on something she would be the first call I made."

In January this year, the 28-year-old said: “I didn’t realise how reliant I’d become on her,” he added. “That was the hardest thing for me, understanding that living life after meant making decisions on my own.”

Tomlinson said when his mother was alive, he thought he would “always have a sounding board”, adding: ”There was a different level of credibility with my mum, because I idolised her.”