Ex-fiancé of TV host who died of mystery illness shares details about their 'crazy relationship'


A celebrity chef and ex fiancé of TV host Kylie ‘KJ’ Jaye who died of a mystery illness has shared intimate details about their ‘crazy’ on-off relationship.

The Sydney-born presenter and health guru died on the Gold Coast on Tuesday following a 20-year battle with an undisclosed medical condition.

Her sudden death, which was just two weeks shy of her 49th birthday, prompted a series of tributes by friends and family who described her as ‘an orb of light’.

On Tuesday afternoon, renowned chef and cookbook author Jason Roberts opened up about his former lover in a heartfelt Instagram video, revealing that they were introduced by a mutual friend on the dancefloor of a club in 2001.

Pictured: Kylie Jaye at a cocktail party at the Crystal Palace at Luna Park in Sydney on October 27, 2004

Pictured: Kylie Jaye at a cocktail party at the Crystal Palace at Luna Park in Sydney on October 27, 2004

‘Neither of us drank, neither of us took drugs but I guess we were high on life,’ he told a friend in the video.

‘Long story short, we connected. We had a pretty crazy relationship – we were both doing television, we were in and out of the press and I think that put a lot of pressure on us and we didn’t give each other the space that we needed.’

Ms Jaye’s career began with Channel 10 as a television host, before going on to create and produce a series of lifestyle shows aired in 45 countries, while Mr Roberts’ TV career started on Channel 9 when he hosted the cooking program Fresh.

The 47-year-old said the pair were ‘never quite made it to the altar’ during their ‘on-again-off-again’ relationship, but said the former love of his life was ‘one of the most beautiful women’.

Pictured: Chef Jason Roberts

Jason Roberts (pictured) revealed details about his relationship with Ms Jaye

Chef Jason Roberts (pictured in an Instagram video) revealed his relationship with Kylie Jaye was tumultuous 

Pictured: Health guru Kylie Jaye at an XBOX party at Dancers Cabaret Club, Sydney, in March 2004

Pictured: Health guru Kylie Jaye at an XBOX party at Dancers Cabaret Club, Sydney, in March 2004

‘She was one of the most driven women, sophisticated women. She wore her heart on her sleeve but she gave everything,’ he said. 

Mr Roberts recalled the moment he realised Ms Jaye’s brother Zach played a joke on him when he flew to Queensland to ask their father for permission to marry his daughter.

‘Zach said, “you’re going to have to kick the tyres on my dad’s car so he knows you’re a real bloke”,’ the celebrity chef explained.

‘So [Kylie and Zach’s father] was out looking in his car and I kicked the tyres and Zach’s dad goes “what did you kick my car for?”.’ 

He laughed and said Ms Jaye’s two brothers ‘ran me in circles’ and convinced him to do ‘crazy’ things to earn their family’s approval, including jumping off a 30m cliff into a water hole.

‘I did it,’ he said. ‘But you know, it was my rite of passage.’

Kylie Jaye (pictured recently) died from an undisclosed condition at the the age of 48. She's pictured in her final Instagram photo posted March 3

Kylie Jaye (pictured recently) died from an undisclosed condition at the the age of 48. She’s pictured in her final Instagram photo posted March 3

Shattered friends and family have paid tribute to health guru and former television host Kylie Jaye (pictured)

Shattered friends and family have paid tribute to health guru and former television host Kylie Jaye (pictured)

The chef also revealed the idea to published his first cookbook Graze in 2003 was Ms Jaye’s, and that she ‘practically wrote the book because I was as lazy as sh*t’.

He explained that her favourite meal was his pumpkin risotto and paid homage to her with a two-page spread of the pair cooking together.

‘This is Kylie and I in the kitchen,’ he said, holding up the black and white image.

‘Kylie and I were fighting like cats and dogs during this period and I don’t even know how we managed to get some of these pics together, but we were on-again-off-again,’ he revealed.

The video marked the second heartfelt tribute by Mr Roberts since Ms Jaye’s sudden death.

Pictured: Mr Roberts and Kylie Jaye pictured in the kitchen together in his cookbook Graze, published in 2003

Pictured: Mr Roberts and Kylie Jaye pictured in the kitchen together in his cookbook Graze, published in 2003

Kylie Jaye (pictured in 2005 promoting Pilates TV) used her well-publicised 'Self-Health' mantra to manage her medical condition

Kylie Jaye (pictured in 2005 promoting Pilates TV) used her well-publicised ‘Self-Health’ mantra to manage her medical condition

Earlier that day, the chef posted a series of photos of his late fiancee and wrote: ‘We may not have made it to the altar KJ , …..we certainly had our fair share of ups and downs … but know this…

‘I thought you were one of the smartest woman I had ever met, you absolute worked your ass off, you were a connector and a community builder, you were so beautiful and so joyful.’

‘I’m heartbroken that your gone. It is better to live for one day as a tiger than to live for a thousand years as a sheep.’

Ms Jaye’s younger brother Isaac Humphries penned a gut-wrenching tribute to his older sister on Facebook. 

‘Today I was told your light, the brightest of any I have had the pleasure to witness or be a part of has flickered out for the last time,’ he wrote on Facebook.

‘I remember you as my big sister, my defender, as a savvy and sassy business savant, Aunty to my kids, but mostly I remember you as my friend. 

‘I wished I could have told you one last time how amazing you were, how much I loved you and how much you meant to me and my family. You will be missed so so much.’ 

Isaac Humphries (right) remembered his sister Kylie (left) as a devoted aunt, savvy and sassy

Isaac Humphries (right) remembered his sister Kylie (left) as a devoted aunt, savvy and sassy

He also said the family had ruled out suicide as a potential cause of death. 

‘Details are still being confirmed at this stage… but I can categorically deny suicide,’ he told the Daily Telegraph.   

‘Kylie Jaye was an orb of energy, you could tell when she entered a room and the room would then just seem dull when she left it.’

‘Her legacy is the love she left in your heart after meeting her, the kindness she would show and her infectious smile that scrunched her nose up when she giggled.’

Ms Jaye’s devastated parents added: ‘Our world is so much sadder now you are no longer with us, you were amazing and inspiring, words cannot describe our feeling of loss and grief.’ 

Another friend wrote: ‘Farewell, my Jaye Bird. I loved the time we spent together and the wonderful songs we wrote together. You will always be in my thoughts. I will miss you dearly.’  

Friends and family have been rocked by the sudden death of health guru Kylie Jaye (pictured)

Friends and family have been rocked by the sudden death of health guru Kylie Jaye (pictured)

Ms Jaye was a health and lifestyle guru who used her own well-publicised ‘self-health’ mantra to manage her medical condition when she was diagnosed in 2002.

‘She was determined not to let it affect her usual fast-paced business, and had to use her well-publicised ‘Self-Health’ mantra and background, expertise and advice usually reserved for her viewers to turn her personal health back around, rebuilding and re-energising, mentally and physically,’ her bio on a talent agent website states.

‘Results surprised her team of specialists, and her diet and lifestyle ‘program’ has been used to help others.’

Ms Jaye’s career began with Channel 10 as a television host and went on to create and produce a series of lifestyle shows aired in 45 countries.

One of most popular shows Yoga TV was funded by sponsors which became a huge hit in Australia and 35 other countries, solidifying Ms Jaye’s entrepreneurial spirit and reputation as a lifestyle guru.

She was also a NSW finalist in the 2002 Business Woman of the Year Awards and wrote 10 books, including including Australian hit sellers ‘Graze’ and ‘Strike a Pose’.

A noticeably slender Ms Jaye posted her final Instagram post on March 3.

‘Bali baby.. here I come,’ she wrote.

Ms Jaye is expected to be laid to rest early next week. 

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