For over a decade, the bond between British pop star Olly Murs and his twin brother, Benjamin "Ben" Murs, has remained fractured — a quiet, painful rift that began not with a scream, but with a missed wedding. In 2009, as Olly Murs rose to fame as the runner-up on The X Factor United Kingdom, Ben was getting married. Olly couldn’t be there. What followed wasn’t just disappointment — it was the unraveling of a lifelong connection.
The Wedding That Broke Them
Ben Murs’ wedding day in 2009 was supposed to be one of the most important moments of his life. Instead, it became the flashpoint of a family fracture. In an interview with the Sunday People, Ben didn’t mince words: “Our family was torn apart because of The X Factor. It was clear that people like Simon Cowell were more important to him than me.” The sentiment echoed through British tabloids. But Olly’s side of the story, revealed later in The Sunday Times, painted a darker, more complex picture. “Long before The X Factor, there were problems between Ben and his girlfriend and our family,” he said. “His wedding was his excuse for not having me in his life anymore… I don’t think he ever liked us as a family.” The contradiction is striking. One brother saw a betrayal. The other saw a long-simmering resentment finally given a public face. Neither denies the pain. Both blame the other. And neither has moved past it.Reconciliation Attempts — And the Door That Slammed Shut
Ben didn’t give up. In 2013, after the birth of his first child, he reached out. He didn’t ask for fame. He didn’t ask for money. He just wanted to be a brother again. According to his 2017 interview with the Sunday People, the response was silence — then a final rejection. “I’ve moved on. I wish him all the best. But I’ve got my life and he’s got his. The last time I made contact, I got the door slammed in my face.” That phrase — “the door slammed in my face” — became the defining line of the entire feud. It wasn’t just about missing a wedding. It was about being shut out of a life that, at one point, was supposed to be shared. Ben, now a father, lives quietly. He doesn’t seek the spotlight. “I don’t care about the superstar Olly Murs,” he told the Sunday People. “I just want to know my brother.” Olly, meanwhile, has built a career — hits, tours, TV presenting, even a stint as a judge on The X Factor’s spin-off, The X Factor: Battle of the Stars. But his personal life has been shadowed by this silence. In a 2015 appearance on The Jonathan Ross Show, he revealed the fallout extended beyond the twins. “Ben’s estrangement from our parents is devastating,” he said. “They’re heartbroken. They still talk about him every day.” That detail — the parents’ pain — changes the scale of the story. This isn’t just two brothers drifting apart. It’s a family torn in half, with two grown men clinging to their versions of the truth, too proud or too wounded to bridge the gap.
Why This Feud Endures
Most celebrity feuds fade. A tweet, a magazine quote, a brief reconciliation — then it’s over. But this one has lasted 15 years. Why? Because it’s not about fame. It’s about belonging. Ben didn’t want Olly’s fame. He wanted his brother. Olly didn’t want to be vilified. He wanted his family to understand that the problems predated his career. Neither side has been willing to admit fault — not fully, not publicly. And in the silence, resentment has hardened into identity. There’s also the role of the media. The Sunday People interviewed Ben twice — in 2009 and again in 2017. The Sunday Times gave Olly space to respond. Each time, the story was repackaged, rehashed, retraumatized. The public consumed it. The brothers saw it. And each retelling made it harder to look away.
What’s Next? No Signs of Reconciliation
As of 2024, there have been no public statements from either brother suggesting a thaw. Olly Murs has avoided the topic entirely since 2015. Ben Murs, in his last known interview, said he’d moved on — but he didn’t say he’d forgiven. He said he still wanted to know his brother. That’s the quiet heart of this story: a man who lost his twin, not to distance, but to pride. The X Factor made Olly a star. But it didn’t create this rift. It just exposed it. And now, years later, the music has faded. The cameras have moved on. But the silence? That’s still there. And it’s louder than any hit song.Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Olly Murs miss his twin brother’s wedding?
Olly Murs was filming the sixth series of The X Factor in 2009, which required him to remain in the UK for live shows and rehearsals. While he later admitted pre-existing family tensions were the deeper issue, his absence at Ben’s wedding became the symbolic breaking point, with Ben publicly blaming the show and its producers, including Simon Cowell, for prioritizing fame over family.
Did Ben Murs ever try to reconcile with Olly after 2009?
Yes. In 2013, after the birth of his first child, Ben reached out to Olly in a private attempt to mend their relationship. According to Ben’s 2017 interview with the Sunday People, Olly did not respond meaningfully — Ben described the outcome as “the door slammed in my face.” No further contact has been confirmed since.
How has the estrangement affected Olly Murs’ parents?
In a 2015 interview on The Jonathan Ross Show, Olly revealed that Ben’s estrangement extended to their parents, leaving them heartbroken and emotionally isolated. He described the situation as devastating, noting they still speak about Ben daily — a detail that underscores how deeply the feud has fractured the entire family unit, not just the twins.
What does Ben Murs want now?
Ben has repeatedly stated he doesn’t care about Olly’s fame, money, or celebrity status. In his 2017 Sunday People interview, he emphasized, “I just want to know my brother.” His desire is purely personal — to reconnect as siblings, not as a pop star and his estranged twin. He says he’s moved on with his life, but the longing for reconciliation remains.
Is there any chance the brothers will reconcile in the future?
As of now, there are no signs of reconciliation. Olly has not publicly addressed the feud since 2015, and Ben has not made any new overtures since 2017. The emotional distance has hardened over 15 years, with both men entrenched in their narratives. While Ben still hopes for a personal connection, Olly has shown no indication of wanting to reopen the door — making future reconciliation unlikely without a major, private shift from one or both sides.
How has the media influenced this feud?
The Sunday People and The Sunday Times published conflicting accounts from both brothers, turning a private family dispute into a public spectacle. Each interview — especially Ben’s 2009 and 2017 statements — was widely reported, reinforcing divisions rather than healing them. The media didn’t cause the rift, but it amplified the pain, making it harder for either man to back down without losing face.
