Dean Saunders tattoos late brother Ben’s name on his throat

Dean Saunders tattooed the name of his late brother Ben Saunders onto his throat on October 3, 2026, explaining on Instagram that he wanted his sibling close to the voice he uses on stage, telegraaf.nl reported. Ben Saunders passed away last month at the age of 43, after rising to fame in 2011 as the winner of the inaugural season of The Voice of Holland.

Dean Saunders Tattoos Brother's Name on His Throat

The 45-year-old singer shared footage of the new ink, stating that a simple placement in his heart did not feel sufficient. Vandaag heb ik jouw naam voor altijd op mijn strot laten zetten, Ben, Dean Saunders wrote on Instagram, adding that only a spot on his throat made sense because that is where his voice originates. He noted that the throat is the anatomical source of the singing voice, emotional expression, and weekend stage performances, turning the ink into something much deeper than a standard tattoo. Mijn broertje. Mijn bloed. Mijn Ben. Voor altijd bij me, he added, stating that his brother is always with him now.

Press Harassment Prevents Family from Attending Funeral

The singer asserted that many published stories rely on assumptions rather than facts, and he revealed that a painful situation prevented the family from attending Ben Saunders’s funeral. Wij vinden het ontzettend verdrietig dat de situatie is zoals die nu is, Dean stated, asking for respect for the family’s privacy and grief. The singer stated that the family has been approached and harassed by the press since his brother’s death, adding that they are not seeking attention and have no need for it. He noted that people do not know what is truly going on and that things are written that are not true, stating that if people knew what played and still plays out, they would understand why they choose to be silent. He mentioned that there are things that cannot be repaired or glued anymore, and asked for respect for Ben, for their grief, and for their privacy. Johan Derksen previously reacted to the death of Ben Saunders at Vandaag Inside. The family also shared that they and his parents decided not to attend the funeral after long and intensive consultation, calling it the hardest decision they ever had to make and choosing not to go out of love for Ben, while a difficult situation around the funeral also appeared earlier that week.

Showbiz Criticism Over The Musical Tribute Timing

Shortly after the death, Dean recorded a cover of Michael Bolton’s How Am I Supposed to Live Without You, a track he identified as one of Ben’s favorite songs. RTL Boulevard panelist Luuk Ikink questioned the timing during a broadcast, stating that it also feels a bit uneasy and asking if it was a bit too early, while Bridget Maasland asked him if it was a bit too early and Luuk agreed it was. Luuk Ikink suggested that he should have waited a few months for the fans, while media critic Rob Goossens claimed the brothers had experienced strained contact, stating that the reports they hear indicate they had no contact at all over the past months, making it very weird and a bit embarrassing to release a song singing How am I supposed to live without you? Bridget Maasland countered that the potential distance between the brothers does not have to mean anything about Dean’s grief, and Luuk agreed that he is allowed to grieve but stated that maybe he shouldn’t have been the first one to do it publicly. Story editor-in-chief Guido den Aantrekker used harsher language, describing the swift musical release as a form of scavenging.

Collaboration With Frank Van Etten Despite Widow Request

Shownieuws reported that Dean Saunders teamed up with Frank van Etten to release a joint commemorative single that combines the melody of Michael Bolton’s song with original Dutch lyrics. In the teaser, the well-known song is combined with Dutch-language lyrics sung from the perspective of someone who has to say goodbye, singing about leaving loved ones and promising to keep watch over them, and whether there was contact behind the scenes with Janita about the release is unknown.