Halsey Reflects on ‘Puzzling & Painful’ Life Changes Following ‘Symbolic’ 30th Birthday & Surprise Party

Halsey celebrated her 30th birthday in style Sunday, eating cake and singing karaoke with friends and family at a surprise party that was so great, it changed the star’s perspective on the particularly challenging decade that came before it.

Sharing photos from the gathering via Instagram on Tuesday (Oct. 1), the pop star began by writing that their “life has gone through inexplicable changes the past decade.”

“Some beautiful and awe inspiring, some puzzling and painful,” Halsey continued. “But 30 came like those ten years never happened, (much like the beautiful birthdays back home in Jersey before I had ever heard of the name Halsey) SCREAMING in an Italian American heritage hall with the people I love. I thought the only reason I’d have all these people in a room with me at the same time would be because I was in a wooden box in the center, but there we were. With cake and crying and bare feet.”

The “Closer” singer has been open about the ups and downs she’s faced these past few years, including being diagnosed with Lupus and a rare T-cell disorder in 2022. Last year, Halsey split from longtime partner Alev Ayden, the father of their young son, Ender.

Fortunately, happier days seem to be abundant now for the musician, who recently confirmed their engagement to actor Avan Jogia. The Victorious alum was in many of the photos Halsey shared from the party, feeding her pieces of cake and holding the About-Face Beauty founder in his arms in between karaoke songs.

“I don’t know how they did it,” Halsey continued in their caption. “But they made all the noise of my twenties stop, and replaced it with joy … That buzzer-beater joy is so strong that it settles the 9 years that came before it.

“This birthday is symbolic to me for so many reasons,” the Maxxxine star concluded. “Every birthday till the end of time will be. I am so grateful to see them all arrive. Thank you for all the birthday wishes.”

Halsey’s 30th comes less than a month ahead of their new album, The Great Impersonator, which drops Oct. 25. The star recently unveiled the project’s 18-song track list, having previously shared its cover and variants through a fan scavenger hunt.

The party also comes on the heels of a recent health scare, with Halsey revealing Sept. 26 that they suffered a “very scary” seizure that led to being hospitalized briefly. The “Without Me” artist at one point wished fans a happy Bi Visibility Day from a hospital bed in a video showing Jogia supportively keeping her company nearby.

“I’m home from the hospital now after a few days, so a win is a win!” Halsey later tweeted.