Duffy to Detail Kidnapping, Sexual Assault for First Time in Doc

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Content warning: this story discusses sexual assault.  

Duffy is returning to the spotlight on her own terms.

After revealing six years ago that she was drugged, kidnapped, and raped, singer Kesha is sharing her full story in a new Disney+ documentary. The film details the traumatic experience that led to her stepping away from public life for nearly ten years, according to several news sources.

Angela Jain, the head of content for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at the company, announced the news at Series Mania on March 25th. According to Variety, she said that Duffy hasn’t spoken publicly about what happened after she disappeared, except for a brief social media post around five or six years ago.

Angela explained that the 41-year-old woman shared her story with them, and they feel a strong obligation to treat it with sensitivity and respect, as this is the first time she’s publicly discussed what happened to her.

A new Hulu documentary, directed by Gil Callan, will tell the complete story of singer Duffy, from her childhood in Wales to her success and eventual withdrawal from public life after a difficult experience. The film will include exclusive access to Duffy (born Aimee Duffy) and interviews with people who know her well, according to a statement reported by Variety.

The Grammy-winning artist first gained widespread recognition in 2008 with her popular song, “Mercy,” but then unexpectedly withdrew from public life in 2011.

In February 2020, Duffy shared a painful story about being held captive in a post on Instagram (which has since been removed), and later in an essay on her website. While she didn’t identify her attacker, she revealed that they had hinted at wanting to end her life.

She explained that many people had been asking about her disappearance and what had happened to her. She assured everyone she was now safe and well, and revealed she had been raped, drugged, and held captive for several days.

Yes, I made it through. It wasn’t easy, and the healing process took a long time,” she said. “But after years of working towards feeling happy again, I can honestly say I do now feel that joy.

Despite largely staying out of the public eye, Duffy briefly reappeared on social media in 2024 to share an inspiring message about where true happiness comes from.

The message shared, which has since been removed, said that you’ll eventually learn happiness comes from accepting yourself, not from relying on others. It explained that real happiness isn’t found in things around you, but comes from within – it’s always been about you.

For more stars who have stepped away from the spotlight, keep reading…

In 2016, the actress and singer spent almost four months prioritizing her health and personal well-being. She completely disconnected from social media and sought treatment at a rehabilitation facility in Tennessee to focus on her emotional health.

After becoming famous at 16 with her hit song “Royals,” the singer decided to take a break from music and Hollywood. She returned to her hometown for almost two years to rediscover who she was and reconnect with her artistic voice.

The red-haired artist stepped away from social media and public life for a year to travel and live more directly, rather than experiencing things through his phone or computer. When he returned with his album, Divided, he explained that he felt out of balance and needed to disconnect to regain perspective. Surprisingly, removing himself from the spotlight actually helped him find equilibrium.

After a frightening robbery in Paris in October 2016, the celebrity paused her public appearances for three months.

Since the death of his close friend in 2006, the rapper—known for stirring up debate—has largely stayed out of the spotlight. He’ll release a new song now and then, but he generally prefers to keep to himself, making him one of Hollywood’s most famous private figures.

After taking time off work in 2013 to focus on her family, the mother of two returned to public life in March and shared what she’d been doing. She explained that she was very selective about projects, carefully considering filming locations and how her work would fit around her children’s schedules. She became so particular, she joked, that no one would hire her. Ultimately, she said, time simply passed by.

After appearing in almost 20 movies over a decade, the actress known for Bridget Jones’ Diary stepped away from public life for about six years. When she returned with Bridget Jones’ Baby last year, she explained her break. She’d been exhausted from working constantly without enough time to rest and recharge, and it eventually took a toll on her health. She also felt she needed time to mature and experience life outside of the spotlight. She valued the chance to connect with people normally, without being recognized as a celebrity. She believes that real-life experiences are essential for actors to be able to convincingly portray characters and connect with audiences.

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2026-03-25 21:20