Reality TV Star Jordan Wright's Tragic Death at 33 in Thailand
The entertainment world is mourning the loss of Jordan Wright, a former reality television star who appeared on popular shows including The Only Way Is Essex and Ex On The Beach, after his tragic death at age 33 in Thailand last week. Wright was found deceased in a drainage canal near Bang Tao Beach in Phuket, with authorities investigating the circumstances surrounding his passing.
Heartbreaking Reflection on Reality TV Career
In the wake of his death, a poignant Instagram post from 2023 has resurfaced in which Wright candidly discussed the profound negative impact his reality television career had on his mental wellbeing and sense of purpose. The late star wrote emotionally about how pursuing fame through television had left him "hugely unfulfilled, stagnant & lost" and caused him to struggle significantly with his identity and direction in life.
Wright revealed that he had resigned from his previous career as a firefighter with the London Fire Brigade to enter the world of reality television, a decision he clearly came to regret. "People think it's glitz & glamour but the truth is very far from public perception," he wrote in the heartfelt caption accompanying images of his early firefighting days. "I really struggled. When I left I lost a huge part of myself and my sense of purpose."
From Firefighter to Television and Back Again
Jordan Wright's career trajectory followed an unusual path from public service to entertainment and back again. He first joined the London Fire Brigade at age 19 and served for six years before resigning to pursue television opportunities. His reality television appearances included eight episodes of Ex On The Beach in 2017 and seventeen episodes of The Only Way Is Essex in 2018.
In 2019, Wright was reportedly removed from TOWIE amid allegations that he was taking paid sick leave from his firefighting duties to film the television program. Following this controversy, he made the decision to leave reality television entirely and return to his previous profession as a firefighter, describing this return as part of his "redemption arc."
Final Days in Thailand and Career Transition
In recent years, Wright had embarked on another career transition, leaving the fire service once more to pursue opportunities in financial investment. His LinkedIn profile listed him as director of London-based company Hampton Gate Wealth, described as a boutique introducer focusing on alternative fixed income strategies for qualified investors.
Prior to his death, Wright had been spending several weeks in Thailand, with social media posts referencing his "new life" in the country. His final Instagram post, dated March 6, showed him relaxing with a glass of wine in an infinity pool, alongside various videos depicting him enjoying boat trips, posing with motorbikes, scuba diving, and sampling local cuisine against Thailand's scenic landscapes.
Circumstances Surrounding His Death
Thai authorities reported that Wright's body was discovered by a Burmese worker in stagnant water on the afternoon of Saturday, March 14. Closed-circuit television footage captured him running around erratically before his death, and he was found lying face down in a water ditch wearing a grey shirt and black trousers but without shoes.
Police indicated there were no immediate signs of physical assault on the body, though officials noted it appeared to have been in the water for some time. Among his possessions recovered nearby were a new iPhone and a hotel key card for Hotel COCO Phuket Bangtao, located approximately twenty minutes walking distance from where he was discovered. Detectives confirmed there were no signs of forced entry or disturbance at the hotel.
Tributes from Friends and Colleagues
Following the announcement of his death, tributes poured in from fellow reality stars, friends, and former colleagues who remembered Wright as a vibrant personality with a passion for music and entertainment. His former manager Alex Shafiq described him to the Daily Mail as a "fun lad" who "lit up any room with his smile."
Shafiq added: "I'm a good judge of character and I knew Jordan was a great person from the moment I met him. He was a very good looking lad, with a great, wide smile. He tried TV for a bit but DJing was his real passion, that's what he wanted to focus on."
Authorities are currently awaiting autopsy results to determine the exact cause of death, while friends and fans continue to mourn the loss of the young man whose public reflections on the psychological toll of reality television fame now carry added poignancy in light of his tragic passing.
