Martyn Hett has been identified by police as the 10th confirmed victim of the attack in Manchester at an Ariana Grande concert. Now his boyfriend and friends are beginning to pay tribute to their “iconic and beautiful” lost loved one.
“We got the news last night that our wonderful iconic and beautiful Martyn didn’t survive,” Hett’s partner, Russell Hayward, said.
“I’m in a really bad way so please forgive if I don’t reply.
“Thankfully I have his wonderful family and amazing friends to keep each other strong. I love you Martyn I always will. X”
In the confusion following the suicide bombing that killed 22 people, Hayward shared: “Soulmate doesn’t even come close. Come back to us Martyn so we can watch last nights Corrie together.”
Martyn, a PR manager from Stockport, and Russell were once interviewed in the media about being the “world’s biggest superfan couple” of the soap opera Coronation Street. Their matching tattoos dedicated to the show’s characters, Ken and Deirdre, were even featured on TV.
Russell called Martyn his “best friend in the whole world.”
Martyn’s friend Christina also shared a tribute in the form of a poem:
PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID
Very sad news. He has a Turkish (Muslim?) ffamily background — which possibly explains the beautiful green eyes. He seemed to have lived to court as much media attention for himself as possible e.g.: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3204474/Overprotective-mother-s-bizarre-trail-notes-house-sitting-son-online-hit-shares-Facebook.html etc ; which overlays this with an additional horrible cruel irony.
Uppity
Maybe he did court attention but he wasn’t harming anyone by doing so and that’s the world we live in now, when so many young people are hooked on self publicising. What’s been distasteful are stars like Madonna and Kim Kardashian posting glamourous, pouting party shots of themselves with Arianna Grande to broadcast how broken their hearts are. And Katy Perry using the opportunity to push open borders. It’s a mixed up world, that’s for sure. I was a little surprised at Grande’s reaction. While not diminishing her pain, her suffering can’t compare to those who are injured or have lost loved ones. She should have visited the hospital quietly the morning after and met some of the injured. What would Adele have done? Or Pink? Or a dozen other singers I can think of? They wouldn’t have jumped straight on a private jet and fled back home. Everybody’s different I guess, and who knows, Scooter Braun may well have advised her to stay on but she didn’t listen. But the depth of character simply isn’t there. No amount of tweets, heart emojis or maudlin selfies from her can suffice, as far as I’m concerned. And I don’t want to see cathartic interviews from her in Vanity Fair or Rolling Stone in a few months’ time, or a standing ovation at some awards ceremony the first time she can “summon the strength” to perform live again. There are some things you just have to do, whether your own heart is breaking or not. She didn’t do what she should have.
DMRX
Umm… He was Public Relations Manager, so his job was to know how to court attention. I get that you live your life trying to be as snarky as possible, but geez, man! Have some respect for the dead.
PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID
By the way, you can see my house in the background. Fan mail via PO box only please
Hillers
I’d added Martyn on Twitter after his hilarious story about his mom’s Post-It notes, and had enjoyed his random tweets. He was planning a trip to the U.S., and his last stop was going to be in SF. I was suggesting he do a meet and greet. Can’t believe he’s gone…