Loose Women star breaks down in tears as she admits she was abused in relationship

Loose Women star Kellé Bryan broke down in tears as she opened up on the horrific abuse she faced whilst in a relationship.

The ITV show aired a special edition of the usually light-hearted chats as they launched their Facing It Together campaign. The aim of the initiative is to encourage those facing domestic abuse to seek help, as well as urging friends and family to help the victim out of the relationship.

On Tuesday’s instalment of the show (March 5), the former Eternal singer was joined by other stars including Janet Street-Porter, Brenda Edwards, Sophie Morgan and Charlene White. Each of the women have been personally touched by domestic abuse, whether it be through experiencing it first-hand or helping someone out of it.

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The Hollyoaks star, 48, bravely opened up on how her abusive ex controlled her, adding that she is “still paying her ex’s debt” after he almost broke her financially. She also revealed that her disgusting ex had physically abused her on a number of occasions by grabbing her by the wrists.

As part of the campaign, many of the stars of the ITV show were photographed in particular ways to highlight the need for awareness of domestic abuse. Bryan’s pose saw her grabbing her own fist as she tried to show victims fighting back.

Speaking on the show, Kellé became emotional as she described the process. “It came organically as I was preparing for the picture – the minute I took my wrist, it reminded me of what used to happen to me physically,” she explained.

“With lots of abusers, some are more astute than others,” she added. “My wrists were something he’d use of a regular basis to restrain me in different ways and that is a way of them feeling….”

It was at this time when the actress began to well up and fight back tears, as her co-stars rushed to hug and hold her. She received a wave of applause from the audience, who reassured her she was not alone.

Managing to regain her composure, she carried on, saying: “It’s a way of them feeling that they have control over you – but equally a way that they can say they didn’t hit you either. In those days, the language around domestic abuse was very much like ‘oh has he?’, that’s the question people in authority would ask.”

Bryan added that her family and friends had taken an immediate disliking to her partner and tried to warn her against him. However, as time went on she said that “looks can be deceiving” as the man she dated was known to be a womaniser, that many did not know he had a darker side to him.

“It got to the point,” she said before pausing again: “I need to apologise to my friends and family for not listening and not being in a place where I could hear them warning me. There is still debt that I’m paying on his behalf now, just because I signed things on his behalf.

“I’d given him a card. He had lost his job and he was saying he had felt emasculated.”

Kelle added that had she not have intervened, she could have lost her home, leaving her broken and destitute. However, it was while she was at a wellness retreat that she had the realisation that she needed to get out of her horrifying relationship.

Figures recently revealed that one in four women and one in seven men will suffer from domestic abuse in their lifetime. The show’s campaign is to highlight the need to speak up and speak out for those who are unable to do so.

Speaking on the campaign, Loose Women’s editor Sally Shelford said: “We hope that this campaign gives a voice to the many survivors and those living with abuse, as well as empowering their friends and family to know the best ways they can help and approach these difficult conversations. We really hope that our campaign helps both survivors and their friends and family face it together.”

If you have been affected by issues of domestic violence or coercive control you can call Refuge’s 24-Hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline for free. The number is 0808 2000 247.

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk