Welsh singer Duffy, who in 2020 revealed she had been drugged, raped, and held hostage over several weeks, will share her full story in a new Disney+ documentary. The feature-length Hulu Original marks the first time the Grammy-winning artist has spoken at length about her trauma.
“She’s barely been seen or heard from since,” said Disney+. “Until now.”
A Decade of Silence
In the late 2000s, Duffy was one of the biggest names in music. Her multi-platinum album Rockferry and its lead single “Mercy” hit the top of charts across the globe. Then, she disappeared.
For 10 years, Duffy vanished from the public eye. In 2020, in a harrowing Instagram post that shocked Britain, the musician shared that a decade earlier, she had been drugged, kidnapped, and taken to another country, where she was violently and sexually abused.
The Documentary
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | Untitled (to be announced) |
| Platform | Disney+ (Hulu Original) |
| Content | Retrospective film traversing Duffy’s life |
| Access | Unprecedented access to Duffy herself |
| Archive | Rich, nostalgic archival footage |
| Interviews | Family, friends, and close peers in the music industry |
The documentary will be a retrospective film traversing Duffy’s life, from her upbringing in Wales, through her meteoric rise to fame, and her withdrawal from public life following her “unfathomable experience.”
The Creative Team
| Role | Name | Company |
|---|---|---|
| Executive Producer | Fernando De Jesus | Rare TV |
| Executive Producer | Matthew Worthy | Stellify Media |
| Director | Gill Callan | – |
| Commissioning (Disney+) | Angela Jain (Head of Content), Sean Doyle (VP, Unscripted, EMEA) | Disney+ |
The film was commissioned out of the U.K. for Disney+ by Angela Jain and Sean Doyle, with production by Rare TV in partnership with Stellify Media.
Statements from Disney+
Sean Doyle, VP of Unscripted for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, shared the emotional significance of the project:
“Fifteen years ago, Duffy was one of the most famous singers in the world. Her voice was distinctly recognizable and powerful. Songs ‘Mercy’ and ‘Warwick Avenue’ from her debut album led to three Brit Awards, a Grammy and Duffy being at the peak of her career. And then she disappeared.”
He added, “This film will give Duffy the chance to tell her story in her own words. 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.”
Angela Jain, Head of Content for Disney+ EMEA, announced the documentary at Series Mania, noting that Duffy feels finally ready to speak.
“Above all, I’m especially in awe of Duffy — for her honesty and courage to share her story,” Doyle concluded.
