Rachel Stevens has broken her silence following the announcement of her separation from husband Alex Bourne after 12 years of marriage. The S Club 7 star took to Instagram Stories to thank fans for their support, writing: 'I just wanted to say thank you so much for all your lovely messages of love and support. It means so much.'
The singer, 46, had earlier shared the news of the split on social media, describing it as a 'difficult decision'. She stated: 'While we are no longer partners in marriage, we will remain partners in parenthood to our beautiful girls and continue with love and respect for each other.'
Stevens and Bourne have two daughters, Amelie, 11, and Minnie, eight. The couple were childhood sweethearts, having first met at a youth club when they were 12. They married in 2011 and were due to celebrate their 13th wedding anniversary next month.
In a separate post, Stevens accused Bourne of gaslighting, though she did not provide further details. The term refers to a form of psychological manipulation where a person is made to doubt their own reality. Fans have praised Stevens for maintaining a united front for the sake of their children.
Stevens rose to fame in the 1990s as a member of pop group S Club 7 and later enjoyed a solo career. She has also appeared on reality shows including Strictly Come Dancing, Celebrity MasterChef, and Dancing on Ice.
