Yahoo News Duffy breaks social media silence after revealing shocking hostage trauma
The Welsh singer has been absent from social media for four years, but has made contact with fans who welcomed her back.
Duffy has made contact with her fans for the first time in four years, breaking her social media silence with an inspirational Instagram post.
The Welsh singer had hits in the Noughties with Mercy and Warwick Avenue, even picking up a Grammy Award for her album Rockferry.
But her third album was never released and she cancelled a number of shows, disappearing from the music industry in 2011.
She shared some shocking news in a 2020 interview, saying that she had retired from the music industry in 2011 as she was dealing with the trauma of having been raped, drugged and held hostage in another country.
Now, she has posted her first social media update in four years that seems to suggest she has been working on processing the trauma she has been through.
What did Duffy say in her new Instagram post?
Duffy has not posted on social media since 2020, but on Monday her fans got an unexpected, welcome surprise when she finally broke her silence with an inspirational video on Instagram.
She captioned it: "A little something to motivate the heart. Hope you are all doing well. Lots of love, Duffy."
The video, which included animations and a man's voiceover, read out words from 2017 personal healing book The Strength in Our Scars by Bianca Sparacino.
It said: "You’re going to realise it one day that happiness was never about your job or your degree or being in a relationship [or] following in the footsteps of all of those who came before you.
"It was never about being like the others… Happiness was always about the discovery, the hope, the listening to your heart, and following it wherever it chose to go. [It] was always about being kinder to yourself.
"It was always about embracing the person you were becoming… learning to live with yourself. Your happiness was never in the hands of others. One day you will realise that true happiness comes from within. And no external factors can define it. It was always about you."
How did Duffy's fans react to her post?
Duffy's followers are reduced in numbers due to her four-year silence, but those fans who do still follow her on Instagram were delighted to hear from her.
Many of them offered words of encouragement and shared how much they had missed her, as one person commented: "We miss you Duffy and your beautiful voice."
Someone else told her: "We miss you Duffy. We love you and hope and wish you are happy, fulfilled and where your heart wants you to be.
"Where you feel you are your most true form, whatever this may mean nowadays. Stay authentic and truthful to your own compass and only sail to where you are becoming the you you want to be. Sending you lots of positive energy and hugs!"
Another fan wrote: "We love you and miss you luv. We’ll wait for you, we’re here," while someone else added: "We love you forever Duffy you’re music and spirit changed lives."
"We miss you, Duffy. And we love you. Hope you are doing okay. Remember people love you here," commented one of her fans.
