Jom Thipanongsri remembered Griffiths as "a kind, cheerful person who always made me smile," she told The Sun
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NEED TO KNOW
- The girlfriend of ASOS co-founder Quentin Griffiths is speaking out after his death
- Jom Thipanongsri remembered Griffiths as “a kind, cheerful person who always made me smile,” she told The Sun
- Griffiths was found dead after falling from the 17th floor of a condominium in Pattaya, Thailand, on Feb. 9
Quentin Griffiths' girlfriend is speaking out after his death.
Jom Thipanongsri, who was dating the ASOS co-founder at the time of his death on Feb. 9, spoke to The Sun in a report published Feb. 23 and expressed her sadness and disbelief. Griffiths, 58, was found dead after falling from the 17th floor of a condominium in Pattaya, Thailand, in what authorities are treating as a suspected suicide, per the outlet.
Thipanongsri, a 26-year-old beautician, said Griffiths showed no signs of suicidal tendencies prior to his death, and she wasn't aware of her partner taking any antidepressants or other medications.
“No one close to him ever thought he would take his own life," she said, adding. "I’m so sad, heartbroken. I was in complete shock when I heard the news, and I have been crying every day since."
Thipanongsri told the outlet she and Griffiths met a few years ago and became romantically involved following Griffiths' split from then-wife Ploy Kringsinthanakun, 43, with whom he shares two children.
At the time of his death, Griffiths had been involved in two ongoing court cases, one of which was a legal dispute with Kringsinthanakun over their shared business, BBC previously reported. Documents relating to both cases were found in Griffiths' apartment.
Thipanongsri said Griffiths didn't confide in her about the lawsuit with his ex-wife, beyond the custody situation between them. According to Thipanongsri, Griffiths was granted custody while Kringsinthanakun had restricted access to their kids.
"I have met his children. They were cheerful and good people. I feel sorry for them now, and I don’t know who will take care of them," Thipanongsri said.
“I can’t believe he has gone. He was a kind, cheerful person who always made me smile," she said, adding, “He was a special person, my hero — I love him so much and miss him every single day.”
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Griffiths co-founded ASOS in London in 2000 alongside Andrew Regan, Deborah Thorpe and Nick Robertson, the great-grandson of the suit retailer Austin Reed, per BBC. The brand was initially called "As Seen on Screen," because it offered items inspired by those worn by movie and TV stars. The brand has grown in popularity since then, with the company's value reaching an estimated $8 billion at one point, per BBC.
Before leaving the company in 2005, Griffiths worked as the marketing director for ASOS. Following his departure, Griffiths remained a large shareholder for the brand for almost a decade, Reuters reported.
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