Fearne Cotton has revealed the emotional toll she faced after her ex-boyfriend, paedophile Ian Watkins, was convicted of horrific child sex crimes. 💔
In her new book Likeable, Fearne, 44, discusses her struggle with depression and shame after Watkins’ crimes were revealed to the world. The former Lostprophets frontman was jailed for multiple offences, including attempting to rape an 11-month-old baby. Fearne, who dated Watkins briefly in the early 2000s, describes how the trauma from the association affected her work and personal life.
Opening up to This Morning, Fearne spoke candidly about the feeling of being “glaringly stared at” by colleagues at Radio 1, struggling with depression and a sense of being “ignored.”
“I feel simultaneously glared at, stared at, yet utterly ignored,” Fearne shared. “It was a time of depression and heaviness.”
While Fearne has never directly named Watkins in public, her grief was compounded by relentless trolling and the weight of his horrific actions. “I don’t carry this shame anymore,” Fearne later revealed, explaining how therapy helped her realize that the shame belonged to others, particularly men who had mistreated her.
Despite the emotional turmoil, Fearne now shares that she’s found peace, partly through public conversations about shame on her podcast, Happy Place. “So many of us feel shame, but it’s not just us,” she noted in a heartfelt post.
Watkins, who died in prison in October last year, was serving a 29-year sentence for multiple child sex offences. The former musician’s crimes shocked the world, as he not only abused children but collected over 27 terabytes of abuse footage.
In an emotional reflection, Fearne remembers how she was “sick” during her time on the airwaves and how the public shame was unbearable. But now, she is learning to move forward.
Her new revelations have caused a stir online, with fans expressing both support and sympathy. Fearne’s journey through recovery, resilience, and finding self-worth after such a traumatic experience is one of strength and inspiration.
