Musician Jill Jones has broken her silence about her relationship with Prince, alleging that he physically assaulted her in 1984. Jones, who sang on Prince's album '1999' and had a long, complicated relationship with him, claims the incident occurred after she slapped him in a jealous rage.
According to Jones, she and a friend visited Prince at a hotel, where an argument broke out after he began kissing her friend. In response, she slapped him, and he then punched her repeatedly in the face. She wanted to press charges but was warned against it by Prince's circle, who feared it would ruin his career. She also avoided going to hospital to prevent the story from leaking.
Jones says Prince later apologised by giving her toys and candy after she had surgery, and they reconciled. She has struggled for decades with whether to speak out, admitting she was waiting for an apology. She also recalls Prince publicly defending Chris Brown after he assaulted Rihanna, which she found surprising.
Jones's testimony was part of a shelved Netflix documentary directed by Ezra Edelman, which the Prince estate blocked, citing potential 'generational harm' to his image. Jones insists her intention was to portray Prince as a complex figure—both loveable and hateful.
Others, including the late Sinead O'Connor, have made similar allegations against Prince. Jones regrets not speaking out in solidarity with O'Connor at the time, but says she wasn't ready. She also notes that domestic violence was more accepted in that era, and she forgives Prince, viewing him as a product of his time.
