Joe McCann Breaks Silence as Zanzibar Police Probe Ashlee Jenae’s Death

Joe McCann is publicly speaking for the first time since the death of influencer Ashlee Jenae, sharing an emotional statement nearly a month after the 31-year-old content creator died during a trip to Zanzibar that remains under investigation.

According to People, McCann posted the message to X on May 5, describing Ashlee Jenae — whose legal name was Ashly Robinson — as his “best friend, confidante and fiancé” while addressing the intense public attention surrounding the case. “There are no adequate words to describe the total devastation, emptiness, and shock I feel after losing” her, he wrote, adding that he was also “heartbroken” for Robinson’s parents.

The statement marks the first time McCann has directly addressed Robinson’s death since authorities in Tanzania confirmed they had questioned him as part of their investigation and temporarily withheld his travel documents.

Police have repeatedly said McCann has not been charged with any crime and has been interviewed as a witness.

Robinson died April 9 while vacationing in Zanzibar with McCann after the couple became engaged during a safari proposal she documented on Instagram days earlier. Tanzanian authorities later said the pair had been separated into different rooms at the Zuri Zanzibar resort following what police described as a “misunderstanding.”

Officials also said hotel staff raised concerns about Robinson’s well-being before she was later found unresponsive and transported to a hospital, where she died the following day.

In his statement, McCann focused heavily on Robinson’s life away from social media, describing her as compassionate, nurturing, and deeply family-oriented.

“Devoted fans knew Ashly through her charismatic online persona Ashlee, but the person I loved was Ashly,” he wrote. He also said she had a close relationship with his children and “desired most” to become a mother herself.

McCann further described Robinson as a “creative genius” with an “encyclopedic knowledge of music” who took pride in her Trinidadian heritage. He closed the statement by saying, “Ashly was an angel who shined her light on everyone fortunate enough to be in her presence,” adding, “Ashly, I love you forever.”

The post arrives after weeks of mounting online speculation surrounding Robinson’s death. Her family previously described the circumstances as suspicious and launched a GoFundMe campaign that has raised more than $60,000 to help cover funeral expenses, travel costs, and other related expenses tied to bringing her home from Tanzania.