After an extended hiatus of over a decade, Welsh singer Duffy (real name Aimee Duffy) is explaining why she has been out of the public eye for so long. In a lengthy Instagram post shared earlier this afternoon, Duffy revealed that her long absence was due to a traumatic experience.
“The truth is, and please trust me I am ok and safe now, I was raped and drugged and held captive over some days,” the singer wrote on Instagram. “The recovery took time. There’s no light way to say it.”
In the caption, Duffy also said that she had first shared the story with a journalist who had sought her out last summer. Now, she's ready to talk about her harrowing experience with the world.
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The singer first made headlines in 2008 when her hit single "Mercy" swept global music charts. After the success of the song, Duffy went on to release a second album titled Endlessly in 2010, which was followed by a decision to take a break from making music for nine years. During this break, Duffy says, she suffered horrendous abuse.
While she did not go into explicit details about what transpired, the singer told fans that she was in a much better space after taking time to herself.
"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," Duffy's caption continued. "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."