The singer spoken out in an emotional interview for the first time since his split from wife Tina was announced last weekend – the couple have been married for 20 years
Tommy Fleming and Tina Mitchell Fleming(Image: Instagram)
Tommy Fleming has broken his silence on his split from wife Tina.
On Sunday, Tina Mitchell issued a statement to confirm her 20-year marriage to Tommy ended last October. She has also stepped down as his manager.
It comes as gardaí confirmed they are investigating the leaking of an audio recording of a private conversation involving the singer.
On Friday afternoon, Tommy spoke on the issue for the first time.
“I’d love to say it’s to set to record straight, but it’s to give my side of it too, to give you my truth,” he said on why he decided to speak out now.
“For at least 10 or 13 years of marriage we were very happy but small cracked started to appear,” he continued. “Small cracks that were never mended. Those cracks became a chasm. I wasn’t happy with my own situation… It wasn’t about being happy, it was about being uncomfortable with the situation if that makes sense.
“I had been living a lie for all my life really. The hardest part of that was the energy and the effort it took for this lie to be constantly covered. That lie was that I’m gay.”
Speaking on Newstalk’s The Hard Shoulder, he added: “I’m finally living my truth. I’m finally being honest. I’m finally able to live a life that’s true and real and honest.”
The Sligo native went on to say that as a young man, he didn’t want to be gay and lived a “straight life”. He admitted he had a “bisexual phase” and therefore didn’t feel like he was living a lie with wife Tina as he admitted he had been in relationships with men.
“She had a full knowledge of that,” he said. “As the years went on, I just knew. It got harder and it became so difficult in the end.”
He said he didn’t stray from his marriage for many years, but eventually he did.
“I was trying to convince myself it was alright because it was anonymous,” he said. “It wasn’t an affair in my head.”
Earlier this week, Tina’s daughter Rebecca spoke about the level of abuse she and her mum have received in the wake of the news.
Tommy and Tina met at a funeral back in 2002. Tommy and Tina got engaged in 2004 while visiting Cape Town in South Africa, and married in Clifden, Co. Galway, in 2006.
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