Amy Winehouse’s Ex-Husband Blake Fielder-Civil Says He Shouldn’t Bear ‘Responsibility’ of Singer’s Death: Amy ‘Had Agency’

In a recent interview, Blake Fielder-Civil, the ex-husband of the late singer Amy Winehouse, opened up about their tumultuous relationship and the painful aftermath of her tragic death. Fielder-Civil, who was married to Winehouse from 2007 until their divorce in 2009, has often been portrayed in a negative light by the media, with many placing the blame for her struggles with addiction squarely on his shoulders.

Fielder-Civil, now 43, addressed these allegations during an episode of the podcast “We Need To Talk,” where he sought to clarify his role in Winehouse’s life and the circumstances surrounding her addiction. He acknowledged having introduced her to heroin but maintained that they became addicts together, asserting that Winehouse had her own agency throughout their shared struggles. “Amy herself had agency… but she did what she wanted to do,” he stated, emphasising her strength as a person even as her drinking spiralled out of control.

Their love story began around 2001 at a London pub, where Fielder-Civil described Winehouse as a “beautiful woman.” At that time, both were largely untouched by the drug scenes that would later overwhelm their lives. However, he noted that their relationship changed significantly as Winehouse’s drinking escalated to a concerning level. This chaotic romance served as a backdrop for her critically acclaimed 2006 album “Back to Black,” a work deeply inspired by their on-again, off-again relationship.

Reflecting on those early days, Fielder-Civil admitted that revisiting those memories is profoundly difficult. “These are memories which are hard for me to revisit… that was my best mate, and we were happy,” he said. He insisted, however, that love and addiction were separate elements of their lives, stating, “Addiction had nothing to do with our love. That’s where it went. It wasn’t who we were.”

Throughout the podcast, Fielder-Civil stressed that he was not a drug addict when he first met Winehouse. He expressed disbelief at the notion he forced her into drug use, countering that he had merely introduced her to heroin after she had already experimented with other substances. He also stressed that her most significant struggles with addiction emerged during the times when he was incarcerated, further complicating the narrative that he was solely to blame for her decline.

The couple’s marriage ended in divorce in 2009, yet they remained in contact until Winehouse’s tragic death from accidental alcohol poisoning in 2011. At the time, Fielder-Civil was serving a prison sentence, and he recounted feeling helpless about her wellbeing. In a chilling reflection, he recalled praying for Winehouse’s safety while behind bars, consumed by fears of being unable to help her if something were to happen.

When he was informed of her passing, Fielder-Civil described the moment as a nightmare. “My first thought was, ‘This is my worst nightmare. It’s not true,’” he recalled, overwhelmed with grief as the reality of her death set in. The fact that he was unable to attend her funeral due to his legal troubles added to the anguish he experienced, as he felt isolated from the grieving process while also being vilified in the press.

Fielder-Civil shared that coming to terms with both his loss and the accusations against him has been a long journey. He maintained that Winehouse would not have wanted him to bear the blame for her struggles, saying, “I’m never, ever here to say, ‘Amy was bad.’ But I know Amy wouldn’t want me to still be sat here 20 years later saying it was all my fault.” He added that they were both “young addicts” at the time, a reality that could easily have affected anyone in similar situations.

In the years following Winehouse’s death, Fielder-Civil has reclaimed his life, now living sober and in a supportive relationship. He believes that Amy would be pleased to see him in a healthier state, remarking on how her spirit continues to influence him. He expressed hope that their shared past could be viewed with more understanding rather than solely as a cautionary tale.

This candid discussion sheds light on the complexities of addiction and personal agency and offers a glimpse into the real-life struggles that accompanied the highs of fame and love.