Archive March 27, 2025

After bravely sharing her horrifying kidnapping ordeal, Duffy has now made her first appearance in ten years in front of the camera. And she apparently sent a powerful hidden message, according to two famous PR experts.

Back in her noughties heyday, Welsh singing sensation Duffy conquered the world. Known for her 2008 monster hit Mercy, the musician who found fame on Wales’ equivalent of The X Factor quickly bagged a Grammy, three Brit Awards and a prestigious Ivor Novello prize as fans went crazy for her amazing voice, beautiful songs and bombshell looks.

But while Duffy became incredibly famous overnight, not to mention insanely wealthy, just a few years later she mysteriously disappeared from the spotlight altogether. It’s true to say the singer’s second album Endlessly, a follow up to the 9-million selling debut Rockferry, proved something of a flop but a much darker and devastating reason would later emerge for Duffy’s exodus from fame.

In 2020, the courageous star described being raped, drugged and kidnapped on her birthday in an ordeal that saw her flown to another country and left in fear for her life. In an open letter titled The 5th House, Duffy said: “It was my birthday, I was drugged at a restaurant, I was drugged then for four weeks and travelled to a foreign country.

READ MORE: Duffy’s hellish four-week kidnap and rape ordeal after being drugged on her birthday

“I don’t recall coming round in the back of a traveling vehicle after taking the plane.” The perpetrator sexually assaulted me after I was taken into a hotel room. After the incident, I recall the discomfort and attempted to remain alert in the room. When I got home, I sat dazed and like a zombie after returning with him, I stayed calm and as normal as possible in a similar situation. He made feigned confessions that he wanted to kill me because I knew my life was in danger.

In the following four weeks, the perpetrator drugged me inside my own home… Going to the police didn’t feel secure. I believed that if something went wrong, I would be dead and that he would have carried out my murder. During my danger, I couldn’t take the chance of being mishandled or having the news about it all over. I had to trust my instincts. It is recorded as a threatening incident that I have told two female police officers in recent years. “

The star’s statement about being a victim of sexual assault was praised by the national charity Rape Crisis. Duffy is speaking out to those who may be suffering alone, they said.

Duffy has recently been spotted by dancer E for the first time in a TikTok clip. a remix of her beloved song Mercy, who was excitedly teased. Duffy, 40, is seen miming to the song’s famous lyrics and confidently winking into the camera in a rare moment of the star. She and E are also pictured mixing the track in the studio. motion revealing that the legendary singer was the contact’s agent for the upcoming collaboration.

Fans were appreciative of the news, with one saying, “Duffy, you were, are, and will always be SENSATIONAL. “One of my favorite singers ever,” one of whom added, “welcome back.” What do famous PR experts think about the possibility of a Duffy revival after such a long time?

“Duffy’s story is definitely unique and I think that actually works in her favour,” ‘PR to the stars’ Mayah Riaz, from mayah.media, told The Mirror. “There’s still a sense of mystery and unfinished business around her career. Fans definitely remember her fondly, and nostalgia is a powerful tool in music.”

If Duffy can just be made to relax and return to public consciousness, Mayah continued, “I think this is a smart and low-pressure move.” A subtle way to introduce herself is to post a TikTok teaser rather than a major PR push or interview. She almost seems to be testing the waters, perhaps gauging interest before making a full comeback.

Mayah noted that the song’s choice may have a hidden meaning, noting that “given what she went through,” the lyrics’ choice does have a certain weight. Whether or not it is done on purpose, it actually makes people feel something when they return. “

An “intentional and strategic” approach was required, according to the crisis management expert, if Duffy wanted to relaunch her career rather than give fans a nostalgic rehash of her most well-known track. Her situation is unlike a typical pop star’s return after a break, she said, adding that her departure was a result of “deeply personal trauma.” It’s crucial that her comeback is handled with care, sincerity, and the right balance of storytelling and music, in line with what they mean.

There is already a rekindling of Duffy’s curiosity about her return. She must, however, have control over how it is shared. She could tell her story in a safe, inspiring way with the help of a carefully chosen exclusive interview. Fans will want to know why she’s coming back and what her current music means, so this isn’t necessarily a tell-all, though.

I would advise her to perform a number of intimate, invite-only gigs rather than jump right into festival slots or TV performances. These would allow her to re-enter her creative side in a relaxed, controlled setting where the talking is done by her artistry. “

Brought up in the tiny town of Nefyn, North Wales, Duffy’s childhood was tough, with the star living in a safe house for a spell as a teenager when her stepfather’s first wife offered an acquaintance £3,000 to kill him. The singer once described how she went off the rails as a teenager, telling the Daily Mail: “From 15 to 18, I did everything — body-piercing to going on 48-hour binge beach parties, to stealing someone’s boat at night and rowing it from one place to another when we were drunk, to jumping on a milk float for a lift home”.

Duffy had a stellar voice by the mid-20s, and she was a star. Media expert Mark Borkowski praised the singer’s massive 2008 hit Mercy, calling it “Motown with a modern stomp that blasts out of every car stereo, gym playlist, and mediocre wedding DJ set for about 18 months straight. Its size gave the impression that it had existed forever. She won the BRITs, received a Grammy, appeared on Diet Coke, and then mysteriously vanished. Top of the charts in a minute. Next, whispered about in mythology.

The brutal truth was that Duffy had not just vanished, years later. She had been raped, drugged, and abducted. A nearly grotesque horror tale to be absorbed. That disappearance suddenly turned out to be tragic rather than enigmatic. Survival is not a creative mystery. her silence In retrospect, it’s deafening. “

The star’s rapist has never been identified in public, and she claimed in her brave online essay that she became suicidal before a trauma and sexual violence specialist arrived to her aid and that a slow recovery took off. The singer concluded, “I owe it to myself to release a body of work someday, though I have no idea how much I admired people as I once did.” This story will be something I experienced, not something that describes me, and the quality of my music will be evaluated on the merit of its quality. “

Mark also takes note of Mercy’s poignant choice to tease a remix. He claimed that “You got me begging you for mercy” no longer functions as a sassy retro hit. It echoes survival, pain, and trauma. Whether or not it was intended as a lyrical reclamation or a deeply uncomfortable coincidence, depending on the author of the edit. “

Fans around the country are willing to welcome the star back with open arms, but it’s still up to chance whether Duffy has chosen the right path for this new body of work. People will support her because of her story, but I would urge her to ensure that she is prepared, both professionally and personally, according to Mayah. In her absence, the industry has significantly changed.

In 2021, five years after Linda Jones’ passing away, Tom Jones, the man who he had been married to for 59 years, had the opportunity to live alone for the first time in his life.

Tom Jones has shared a heartfelt insight into his life after losing his wife, Linda, revealing he keeps her ashes in a special place in his home. The legendary singer, known for hits like ‘It’s Not Unusual’, found himself living alone for the first time in over 50 years following Linda’s passing in 2016.

In 2021, Tom resided in a London flat with a view of the London Eye, having moved back from Los Angeles under the condition that his son could find him a place with a view of “the wheel”. He made sure to bring Linda’s memory with him, keeping her ashes close by.

During a Zoom chat with journalist Kate Mossman, who recounted the conversation in her new book, The Voice coach Tom pointed out the location of his wife’s ashes.

She described her appearance to The Times as “she’s in a gorgeous box in my bedroom.” She would probably like a modern box with a modern design on it. The wife can do anything”!

Linda, whose real name was Melinda Trenchard, sadly died after a fight with lung cancer. At the time, a statement on Tom’s website announced her peaceful passing in the presence of her family and Tom.

The year before her death, Tom expressed his deep concerns for Linda in his autobiography, ‘Over the Top and Back: The Autobiography’, particularly during a “major operation” she faced, fearing he might lose her then, reports Wales Online.

He wrote, “Linda needed surgery a while back. She made it, too. However, it was a significant operation, and I had to consider whether I would lose her. I had the worst anxiety of all time.

He continued, “It came home how much of a part of me she has been throughout my entire adult life,” referring to Linda’s profound influence on his life.

She has always been there, even though I’ve been on tour for months and have spent years. And if she weren’t, I’d be happy with that.

Their romance blossomed when they started dating at the age of 15 when they first met at a local phone box in Treforest, Pontypridd. The shelter that brought them together was a rainbow rainbow playing cupid.

Reminiscing in an earlier interview with the BBC, Tom let slip that his heart had belonged to Linda since he was a lad of 12, recalling times spent watching her walk past while he lay ill with tuberculosis.

Hugh Jackman, the star of Wolverine, and his producer wife Deborra-Lee Furness announced their shock split in 2023 as they attempt to end their bitter divorce and move on.

Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness have been hit with a cruel twist in their divorce after vowing to split with “gratitude, love, and kindness”. However, it appears things have turned sour between the former couple as they are stuck in a bitter tussle.

The Australian producer, 69, had been married to The Greatest Showman actor, 56, for 27 years before they announced their shock split back in 2023. Since then Deborra has reportedly remained estranged from her ex husband. Meanwhile, Wolverine star Hugh has gone public with his new girlfriend, American actress Sutton Foster, 50.

The separated spouses “separate to pursue our individual growth,” the estranged spouses told their supporters. In January, it appeared that they were only weeks away from preparing for a divorce in New York. The once content couple are at a dead stop after two months.

Deborra-Lee, who has hinted about relocating back to Australia, reportedly believes she is “entitled” to more money, with allegedly Hugh refusing to cough up. The ex-couple, parents to son Oscar, 24, and daughter Ava, 19, are navigating how to coexist, which includes settling their estimated $250million fortune.

“Hugh and Deborra-Lee have not yet filed for divorce because they are struggling to reach an agreement on how to divide their assets,” a source told Daily Mail. “Deborra-Lee feels entitled to more money than Hugh is willing to offer.”

During Covid, their marriage is said to have begun to unravel. The couple’s separation “has been stressful, hard, and not fully amicable,” according to an insider who spoke to Us Weekly, and there have been disagreements over “certain” issues following the split.

Despite hurt and pain, the source stated, “They’re moving forward as best they can] but it will take a while to recover because they’ve been together for so long.”

The Hollywood star declared his love Deborra-Lee on their 27th wedding anniversary in April 2023, just months before their breakup. He stated, “I love you, Deb. Our wedding anniversary is today. 27 YEARS!! I’m so in love with you. We have created a lovely family from scratch. and life,” wrote the Wolverine author.

I have received an incredible gift from you: your laughter, your spirit, generosity, humor, cheekiness, courage, and loyalty. I sincerely love you.

However, the couple divorced just a few months later, in a surprising turn of events, in September 2023. In a joint statement, they shared that “we have been blessed to share almost three decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage.”

We have chosen to separate to pursue our individual growth because our journey is now changing. Hugh and Sutton Foster were romantically linked just a year later.

Us Weekly reported in November 2024 that the new couple started dating after their friendship blossomed into romance during their 11-month stint in Broadway’s The Music Man, which started in 2022. Sutton was still married to screenwriter Ted Griffin when she met Hugh, who initiated divorce proceedings in October 2024.

Several of Hugh’s friends from Australia were reportedly “disgusted” with the Wolverine actor for leaving his wife and going public with his new romance. Sources toldRadar: “Hugh’s friends in Australia are close to Debs too, and they’re siding with her in all of this.

Hugh and Sutton are in a state of absolute love, even though they haven’t publicly shared their feelings. Debs feels like she was let down for the younger model, which is unfortunate.

Deborra-Lee was reportedly shocked when Hugh’s new relationship was revealed, but she also felt relieved after seeing the romantic photos of the newlywed couple. After their split, she is reportedly ready to leave her romantic relationship.

The Mirror has contacted Hugh and Deborra-Lee’s representatives for comment.

READ MORE: H Samuel Mother’s Day sale gets shoppers watch and matching jewellery for less than £20 each

As his father, Martin Kemp, debunk a jargon-filled phrase he used to describe Shirlie Holliman’s marriage on their podcast, Roman Kemp was left shocked.

When his father, Martin, dropped a phrase that irritated him while talking about getting married to his wife (and Roman’s mother), Shirlie Holliman, Roman Kemp was left speechless.

On their podcast, “FFS!” in the middle of a heated exchange, The Spandau Ballet star, Martin Kemp, claimed that Shirlie had abused him throughout their 37-year union with harsh “tongue lashings.” Roman was both confused and slightly alarmed by the phrase used by Martin to describe Shirlie’s knack for a sharp rebuke.

Roman fumbled out an exclamatory in shock and demanded clarification from his well-known father because he feared it might be unusual innuendo. The incident sparked a fit of laughter between the pair despite their odd choice of words.

You know what I mean when I say tongue lashings, and Martin said, “Shirlie gives me some good tongue lashings. She will know when and how to put me down.”

What the actual f*** does that mean, Roman exclaimed in response to his father’s initial statement made during the podcast? That is the worst thing you’ve ever said, and that’s horrifying. The headline reads “HORRIBLE!” as I can see it now.

Martin said, “I love coming in here and talking to you, but I couldn’t stop laughing.” When I’m traveling, even with my friends. When I’m sitting here with you and talking to you, I never laugh as much.

Martin Kemp has been enjoying the perks of podcasting with his son Roman, but it’s not all smooth sailing. Roman opened up about the pressures of being a celeb’s kid, admitting to his dad that he feels the weight of expectation, reports Gloucestershire Live.

The father-son duo then exchanged a phrase that best describes a strong work ethic. Roman has a great work ethic, Martin complimented him.

Is “work ethic” another way to describe how hard you work? Roman, however, responded, “Good work ethic isn’t you working your b******s off. It’s about maintaining drive while maintaining a balance between work and life.

Roman continued, confessing, “Can you maintain drive and ambition while being true to yourself and understanding who you are?” I have a lot of trouble with that because, to be honest, I just get carried away by this thought. I’m not interested. “Ssack it all off,” I would say.

Roman tells OK! that despite the tension, he has always felt a special bond with his father. Magazine: “I don’t think I’ve ever felt like we weren’t friends,” which some people find odd. He continued, “He continued, that football chats about Arsenal have become a regular part of their relationship, just like they did his mates.”

He said: “Football has been a big part of it. I’ll call my dad and speak about Arsenal in the same way I’ll call my friends and talk about Arsenal.