Six years after writing a harrowing account of what she said was a terrifying incident in which she said she was drugged and flown to a foreign country and sexually assaulted while being held hostage, British singer Duffy (born Aimee Anne Duffy) is gearing up to tell the full story of her life.
Disney+ announced on Wednesday (March 25) that an upcoming, as-yet-untitled Hulu Original feature-length documentary will tell the story of the Grammy-, BRIT- and Ivor Novello award-winning singer who vanished from the public eye after the release of her 2010 Endlessly album.
“Fifteen years ago, Duffy was one of the most famous singers in the world. Her voice was distinctly recognizable and powerful,” said Disney+ vice president of unscripted Sean Doyle in a statement, citing such hits as her breakthrough 2008 Billboard Hot 100 No. 8 hit “Mercy” from her 2008 Grammy-winning debut album, Rockferry.
“And then she disappeared. This film will give Duffy the chance to tell her story in her own words,” he continued. “I am grateful to our collaborators at Rare TV for this unprecedented access, along with Stellify Media for handling this project with sensitivity and care. We set out in a search for impactful, female-led stories in collaboration with Northern Ireland Screen, and it’s a privilege that Duffy’s is the first we’re able to help tell. But above all, I’m especially in awe of Duffy – for her honesty and courage to share her story.”
In 2020, Duffy shared a harrowing account of what she described as the abduction that sent her into hiding for nearly a decade. In the note, she said she was drugged at a restaurant while celebrating her birthday, then taken to an unnamed foreign country where she said she was held captive and raped by unnamed assailants.
Though Duffy said she later spoke to police about the incident, to date the names of the alleged assailants have not come to light and there is no public record of any arrests in the case. According to the release, the doc will feature interviews with Duffy, her family, friends and music industry peers; at press time no release date or production schedule has been announced.
Duffy has kept a low profile since the incident and has only released two new songs since Endlessly, the June 2020 ballad “River in the Sky” and the radio-only single “Something Beautiful.” She made a small step back into the spotlight last March when she made a brief cameo in a TikTok video posted by e.motion to promote an EDM remix of the singer’s signature hit “Mercy.”
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.
