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Duffy shares her story of surviving rape and captivity

Photo credit: Brian Rasic - Getty Images
Photo credit: Brian Rasic - Getty Images

From Digital Spy

Note: The following article contains discussion of sexual assault that some readers may find upsetting.

Duffy has publicly addressed her disappearance from the limelight with a harrowing story of surviving tragedy.

The Welsh popstar – full name Aimee Anne Duffy – became a Grammy and Brit Award-winning sensation in the late 2000s with the release of her debut album Rockferry, which spawned the hit title track and 'Mercy'.

Photo credit: Brian Rasic - Getty Images
Photo credit: Brian Rasic - Getty Images

In the years since the heights of her early success, Duffy all but disappeared from the music business and her fans never quite knew why – until now.

The singer-songwriter has shared a message on her Instagram account explaining that she took time away to process being the victim of sexual assault, drugging and captivity.

She explained: "Many of you wonder what happened to me, where did I disappear to and why. A journalist contacted me, he found a way to reach me and I told him everything this past summer. He was kind and it felt so amazing to finally speak.

"The truth is, and please trust me I am ok and safe now, I was raped and drugged and held captive over some days. Of course I survived. The recovery took time. There's no light way to say it.

View this post on Instagram

You can only imagine the amount of times I thought about writing this. The way I would write it, how I would feel thereafter. Well, not entirely sure why now is the right time, and what it is that feels exciting and liberating for me to talk. I cannot explain it. Many of you wonder what happened to me, where did I disappear to and why. A journalist contacted me, he found a way to reach me and I told him everything this past summer. He was kind and it felt so amazing to finally speak. The truth is, and please trust me I am ok and safe now, I was raped and drugged and held captive over some days. Of course I survived. The recovery took time. There’s no light way to say it. But I can tell you in the last decade, the thousands and thousands of days I committed to wanting to feel the sunshine in my heart again, the sun does now shine. You wonder why I did not choose to use my voice to express my pain? I did not want to show the world the sadness in my eyes. I asked myself, how can I sing from the heart if it is broken? And slowly it unbroke. In the following weeks I will be posting a spoken interview. If you have any questions I would like to answer them, in the spoken interview, if I can. I have a sacred love and sincere appreciation for your kindness over the years. You have been friends. I want to thank you for that x Duffy Please respect this is a gentle move for me to make, for myself, and I do not want any intrusion to my family. Please support me to make this a positive experience.

A post shared by @ duffy on Feb 25, 2020 at 10:12am PST

"But I can tell you in the last decade, the thousands and thousands of days I committed to wanting to feel the sunshine in my heart again, the sun does now shine.

"You wonder why I did not choose to use my voice to express my pain? I did not want to show the world the sadness in my eyes. I asked myself, how can I sing from the heart if it is broken? And slowly it unbroke."

Duffy plans to speak further about her experiences in a video interview "in the following weeks", where she hopes to address any questions her fans may have.

"Please respect this is a gentle move for me to make, for myself, and I do not want any intrusion to my family," she asked. "Please support me to make this a positive experience."

Photo credit: Gregg DeGuire - Getty Images
Photo credit: Gregg DeGuire - Getty Images

The singer received thousands of messages of support on her Instagram post, with many praising her strength, courage and for being a "beacon of hope" for preserving in spite of what she'd gone through.


Rape Crisis England and Wales works towards the elimination of all forms of sexual violence and sexual misconduct. If you’ve been affected by the issues raised in this story, you can access more information on their website or by calling the National Rape Crisis Helpline on 0808 802 9999. Rape Crisis Scotland’s helpline number is 08088 01 03 02.

Readers in the US are encouraged to contact RAINN, or the National Sexual Assault Hotline on 800-656-4673.


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