Simi Drey: Why I called off marriage to my ex-lover

Simi Drey, the award-winning British-Nigerian radio presenter, has opened up about her past relationship and marriage that ended in cancellation.

In a recent episode of the ‘WithChude’ podcast, Simi said her friends kept pressuring her to get married, despite her parents’ warnings about the relationship.

The London-born radio presenter said after getting engaged, she realized she wasn’t fully fulfilled and happy.

Simi said her ex-fiancé wasn’t abusive or unfaithful, but she sought a marriage built on equal love and respect.

The 26-year-old actress said months after her engagement, she expressed her reservations to him, suggesting that they work on their relationship before considering marriage.

Simi said a month later, she realized that she didn’t want to marry him.

The media personality said she ended the relationship and faced criticism from her friends.

Simi, born Simileoluwa Audrey Adejumo, also said she remained single until she met her husband Julian Flosbach in 2019.

“My ex and I did not have a perfect relationship. He never cheated. He was never abusive. But you know when you are not 100% fulfilled or happy. We do live in a part of the world where marriage is heavily emphasised especially for women. My parents never put pressure on me, but I remember my friends asking me ‘when will you get married?'” she said.

“Eventually he proposed. I remember having this apprehension that is he really the person I am going to marry? I was very close to my mum. When I called her that I was engaged she said ‘Simi do not do this’. But I told her ‘no, everything is fine’.

“My mother is not that kind of person who would ever stop me from doing something or blacklisting me. But she knew that I was not feeling whole in the relationship. I called my dad I ended the call in tears. These were not tears of joy but of apprehension.

“Two months later, I called my fiance then that we should work on our relationship first and then maybe we can think about marriage. A month later, I did not feel I wanted to marry this man.

“I wanted to marry with worth. I ended the engagement with him. And I got another criticism from people around me. I had to be truthful to myself that I was not happy in the relationship.

“It was after I left that the reality hit me. I realised to be single and happy is better than be married and miserable.

…If I do not feel respected or feel a man is superior to me because of title or his finances, it is a no.”

Simi and Julian Flosbach tied the knot in 2023 and recently welcomed their first child.