The tragic and lonely death of high profile Sydney publicist Jai Evans came just a fortnight after he told friends he felt ‘sick’ and that his ‘body was pulling the pin’ due to working 15 hour days.
Evans, 43, was found dead in his luxurious luxurious 36th floor apartment in Darlinghurst’s Harry Seidler-designed Horizon complex last Wednesday.
The precise cause of Evans’ death in his $1400-per-week two bedroom rental remains a mystery, although a spokesperson for the NSW Police Force said that it was not believed to be suspicious.
Daily Mail Australia can reveal that Evans – a prominent figure in the city’s entertainment industry since the early 2000s – had appeared troubled and preoccupied at a final dinner with friends on August 22.
That was about a fortnight before his death, and the last time his mates saw him.
Evans had an impressive façade wearing high-end designer items such as shoes, jackets, fur coats and sunglasses worth in excess for $1million.
‘Jai would always try and dress his friends up in his designer clothes like he was embarrassed to be seen with them if they looked homeless,’ one close friend recalled.
‘He was funny like that, always wanting everyone to look their best.’
But behind his seemingly opulent lifestyle was a lonely and stressed man grappling with professional pressures and personal issues.
Sydney publicist Jai Evans was a man well-known for his glamorous lifestyle, rubbing shoulders with celebrities like Lara Worthington, and living life in the fast lane. Pictured at his apartment in February 2023
However, that whirlwind existence came to a tragic and lonely end this week when Evans, 43, was discovered dead in his luxurious high-rise apartment in Darlinghurst on September 4
Evans, who had been a prominent figure in Sydney’s entertainment scene since the 2000s, was found in his lavish $1400-per-week rental at the prestigious Horizon complex
Evans, who had spoken about feeling immense pressure in his work and personal life, had not been seen or heard from for days before his body was finally discovered in the high-rise apartment, which boasts some of Sydney’s most breathtaking views
PR guru’s final meal
Sources close to Evans have revealed he had lost several high-profile clients and had been struggling to attract new business in recent months, leading to financial strain.
Just two weeks before his death, Evans complained about ‘always being under the pump’ with his clients.
He texted a friend: ‘I’ve been doing 15 hour days and my head is deep in planning for a lot of clients and [NYC] fashion week and I think my body is pulling the pin.
‘I’m training daily and on a diet too so that’s why I could feel sick’.
On August 22, Evans had dinner with friends in Potts Point.
During the meal, he mentioned that he ‘needed a drink’ despite having committed to sobriety.
Friends noted a marked change in his demeanour, describing him as distant and preoccupied, with some speculating that he was battling personal demons.
‘He was under a lot of stress,’ one insider revealed. ‘He told us he had a court matter coming up and was really worried about it, though he never went into much detail.’
Evans’ passing has left many in the PR industry reeling.
It is believed that his body may have been lying in the apartment for days before it was discovered.
Evans’ (right) last public appearance was at a dinner in Potts Point, Sydney, on August 22, which he attended with several MAFS contestants, including Alyssa Barmonde, Al Perkins, Layton Mills and Selina Chhaur, all pictured
A tragic ending
Evans’ storied career in the PR world had seen him work with some of the biggest names in the entertainment and fashion industries.
However, in recent years, the demands of the industry appeared to have taken a toll on him.
Despite his years of experience and success, sources claim that he had been finding it increasingly difficult to secure new clients and keep up with his lavish lifestyle, leaving him under pressure to maintain his existing relationships.
Evans complained to close friends that he was unhappy other publicists had been trying to ‘cut his grass’ and ‘steal his clients’.
Despite his years of experience and success, sources claim that he had been finding it increasingly difficult to secure new clients and keep up with his lavish lifestyle, leaving him under pressure to maintain his existing relationships. Pictured with Lara Worthington in 2005
Bondi fitness entrepreneur Dan Wootton confirmed the news of Evans’ death, while DJ Shiralee Coleman also took to Instagram to pay tribute (she is pictured with him in May 2023)
Friends and colleagues have expressed shock and sadness at Evans’ passing, with many taking to social media to pay tribute to the man they described as a ‘PR legend’ and ‘a true professional.’
Another wrote, ‘Devastated he was a dear friend, I honestly thought he’d be with us forever. I’m extremely sad but grateful to have shared so much laughter and love. Oh Jai, you’re missed than you’ll ever know’.
While Evans’ cause of death remains unknown, those close to him are grappling with the heart-wrenching realisation that the man they admired for his energy and charisma had been suffering in silence.
‘He was distant in the weeks before his death,’ one friend revealed. ‘He’d fall off the radar, which wasn’t like him at all.’
For confidential crisis support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Evans had more than two decades of experience in the public relations industry. He founded his own business, Evans Media, in 2005, and worked with hundreds of media companies to help with their PR strategies. He is pictured with events manager Lucia Labbate in May 2008
