Kidnap plot that forced Duffy to disappear from spotlight for years
Warning: This article contains discussion of rape which some readers may find distressing.
Duffy has confirmed that she will tell her story in an upcoming Disney+ documentary after a horrific ordeal saw her take a step back from the music industry.
The Welsh singer, whose real name is Aimée Anne Duffy, became a huge star in the late noughties thanks to her hits Mercy and Warwick Avenue, but mysteriously disappeared from the public eye around 2011.
Now 41, Duffy had earned herself a Grammy for her musical prowess but hasn't released any new music since 2010, which left many wondering what happened.
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Nearly a decade after she virtually disappeared, the artist returned to share a powerful message on her blog, which detailed a four-week ordeal in which she was 'drugged, kidnapped and raped'.
She wrote: "It was my birthday, I was drugged at a restaurant, I was drugged then for four weeks and travelled to a foreign country.
"I can't remember getting on the plane and came round in the back of a travelling vehicle. I was put into a hotel room and the perpetrator returned and raped me."
The singer, who was spotted for the first time in years in a social media video last year, also revealed in her 2020 post that she'd moved 'five times in the immediate three years after' as she 'never felt safe' from her kidnapper.
Following her traumatic ordeal, Duffy said she'd taken some time to herself to process what she'd experienced.
"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," she said.
"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 [sic]."
Duffy never named her attackers and refused to go to the police due to safety concerns, but it seems as if more details from her experience will be made public in the upcoming Disney Plus documentary.
What did Duffy say about her ordeal?
In her emotional blog post, the singer opened up about her desire to leave everything behind and move to a different country with a new name, but later realised that she couldn't 'keep disappearing'.
Sharing more details about her kidnapping, she wrote: "I remember the pain and trying to stay conscious in the room after it happened. I was stuck with him for another day, he didn’t look at me, I was to walk behind him, I was somewhat conscious and withdrawn.
"I could have been disposed of by him. I contemplated running away to the neighbouring city or town, as he slept, but had no cash and I was afraid he would call the police on me, for running away, and maybe they would track me down as a missing person.
"I do not know how I had the strength to endure those days, I did feel the presence of something that helped me stay alive. I flew back with him, I stayed calm and as normal as someone could in a situation like that, and when I got home, I sat, dazed, like a zombie. I knew my life was in immediate danger, he made veiled confessions of wanting to kill me. With what little strength I had, my instinct was to then run, to run and find somewhere to live that he could not find."
She also revealed her reason for sharing her story, writing: "I am sharing this because we are living in a hurting world and I am no longer ashamed that something deeply hurt me, anymore. I believe that if you speak from the heart within you, the heart within others will answer. As dark as my story is, I do speak from my heart, for my life, and for the life of others, whom have suffered the same.
"I have no shame in telling you either I had spent almost ten years completely alone, and it still burns my heart to write it. I owe it to myself to say it, I feel obliged to explain how challenging recovering truly was, and to finally disclose it. I hope it comforts you to feel less ashamed, if you feel alone."
What has been said about the Duffy documentary?
Angela Jain, Disney+ head of content for EMEA, described it as a 'really powerful project'.
“She has entrusted us with her story, so we really have a huge responsibility to handle this with care and sensitivity, because she’s speaking about what happened to her for the first time,” Jain added.
Sean Doyle, Vice President, Unscripted, Disney+ added: “Fifteen years ago, Duffy was one of the most famous singers in the world. Her voice was distinctly recognisable and powerful. Songs 'Mercy' and 'Warwick Avenue' from her debut album led to 3 Brit Awards, a Grammy and Duffy being at the peak of her career. And then she disappeared."
Production on the documentary will start soon and will offer viewers 'unprecedented access to Duffy' following her 'unfathomable experience'.
Gill Callan, Director, adds, “Duffy’s life has been shaped by success and fame, but equally by pain, defiance, and an irrepressible sense of self. I’m drawn to the tension between vulnerability and confidence in her story and how a person can be deeply affected by their experiences, yet still find a powerful, expressive voice that is unmistakably hers.”
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact the Rape Crisis England and Wales helpline on 0808 500 222, available 24/7. If you are currently in danger or need urgent medical attention, you should call 999.
Topics: Music
James Moorhouse