Rachel Stevens’ ex-boyfriend Brendyn Hatfield has broken his silence on their shock split last month, revealing he’s focusing on ‘healing’ – after she alluded to ‘gaslighting’ and ‘unkindness’.
The Dancing On Ice professional, 40, who dated the S Club 7 singer, 47, for three years, shared an emotional post on Instagram at the weekend alongside photos with his young son.
In one image, the American skater smiles at the camera while lying on the floor, while another shows him in a swimming pool with his two-year-old.
Brendyn became a dad in late 2022 with a TV executive linked to Dancing On Ice following his split from fellow pro skater wife Jessica.
In his post on Sunday night, Brendyn admitted that recent months had brought their ‘fair share of shocks, realizations and surprises – some harder than others’, but also gave him time to ‘ease the stress, bring a bit of calm back into life and spend time with my little man’.
He wrote: ‘Healing and recovering isn’t always about how fast you can get back on your feet or return to ‘normal’. Sometimes it’s about the space to breathe and being surrounded by the kind of energy and people that quietly steadies you, recharges you and empowers you when you need it most. That kind of peace leads to growth and new paths.’
Rachel Stevens’ ex-boyfriend Brendyn Hatfield has broken his silence on their shock split last month – revealing he’s focusing on ‘healing, recovering and finding peace’
In a post on Sunday night, Brendyn admitted that recent months had brought their ‘fair share of shocks, realizations and surprises – some harder than others’
He added: ‘I used to think strength was about holding it all together and trying over and over again – maybe that’s the athlete in me. Now I think it’s about knowing what’s worth holding on to and what’s already shown you enough.’
This is the first time Brendyn has publicly addressed his split from Rachel which was confirmed in early October.
The pair, who met when they were partnered together on Dancing On Ice in 2022, went public with their romance the following year and were seen as one of the ITV show’s most glamorous couples.
Their breakup came as a surprise to fans after Rachel described Brendyn as her ‘soulmate and love’ in a gushing post for his 40th birthday in January, writing: ‘My love, my soulmate. Happiest of birthdays my darling and welcome to the 40s club.’
But last month it was revealed the relationship had ended, with friends saying the couple had ‘drifted apart’ and struggled to make their blended family work.
A source told The Sun at the time: ‘It is incredibly sad and a relatively recent thing. Both Rachel and Brendyn felt there was no way forward for them.
‘Rachel recently took herself to Marbella with her two daughters to get some much-needed headspace, and Brendyn and his young son have now moved out of the family home into a flat.
‘There is still a lot of affection, and no regrets. But it isn’t easy trying to make a blended family run seamlessly and in the end, tensions between Rachel and Brendyn got too much. They never want to row in front of the kids, who remain their priority.’
The Dancing On Ice professional, 40, who dated the S Club 7 singer, 47, for three years, shared an emotional post on Instagram at the weekend alongside photos with his young son
This is the first time Brendyn has publicly addressed his split from Rachel which was confirmed in early October
In the days following the split, Rachel appeared to allude to her heartbreak in a series of cryptic Instagram posts about ‘gaslighting, boundaries and unkindness’, although sources insisted the quotes were not aimed at anyone in particular.
One of her posts read: ‘Sometimes we have to remind ourselves that we are not responsible for other people’s poor behaviour… What’s on you is how you choose to respond, set boundaries, know your worth and not let their actions impact the beautiful soul that you are.’
An insider told the Daily Mail: ‘Rachel’s posts are not directed at anyone in particular and are certainly not connected to her relationship. She often shares quotes about self-development – it’s something she’s passionate about.’
While Rachel has remained quiet in recent weeks, Brendyn’s latest post suggests he’s focusing on rebuilding his life after the separation – and finding comfort in fatherhood.
The dancer also wrote in his caption: ‘Here’s to lazy Sundays, hungry caterpillars, sleepy dads, and finding peace somewhere in between.’
Friends and fans commented with support. TV presenter Michaela Strachan wrote: ‘Love this post. Hold on to what brings you your pockets of joy.’
Another added: ‘I hear you and feel what you saying… sending peace, stillness and gratitude for you.’
Rachel recently admitted she is still grieving the end of her marriage – three years after her split from property mogul husband Alex Bourne. She went on to date Brendyn after her marriage breakdown.
The S Club Seven star, 47, was married to Alex – the father of her two children – for five years before they divorced in 2022.
Her ex-husband Alex is now preparing to welcome a baby with his art dealer wife Lily, 31.
And last month the singer admitted she struggled to come to terms with the end of her previous relationship because she buried her feelings.
Speaking to HELLO!’s Second Act podcast, Rachel explained: ‘From some days to the next, some days you feel empowered, you feel like: ‘Yes, I’ve got this’ and then other days you feel like you just wanna cry under the duvet and hide.
‘I went from being married and then went into another long relationship, and I don’t know if I actually fully grieved the loss of my marriage. I constantly felt like my nervous system was on fight or flight.’
She continued: ‘For a long time, I put the smile on and turned up and became the person that I thought I should be and got very lost along the way.
‘And now after real sort of experience of divorce, being a parent, with heart break it’s only really suddenly I have to build those foundations. I [put a lid on my feelings] and just sort of numbed myself because the feelings were just too much.
‘When I feel anything that’s sort of very emotional I withdraw, I isolate – so I’m really learning to reach out and be gentle and nurturing with myself. I don’t have to be anything other than what I am.’
Despite Rachel being newly single, she hasn’t given up on love as she is still a ‘hopeless romantic’.
She said: ‘I’ve always been a relationship girl. I’m such a romantic and I love love. I want that movie love. [I’m] a hopeless romantic.’
The singer went on to admit she’s looking forward to turning 50 in a few years’ time, adding: ‘You should celebrate every year. I like the power of being wise and emotionally more mature.
Before dating Brendyn, Rachel was married to Alex Bourne – the father of her two children – for five years before they divorced in 2022 (pictured 2011)
‘[Going forward] I want to trust and believe in myself. But that’s work in progress; we’ve never arrived. You can just do your best every day.’
Former couple Rachel and Alex were childhood sweethearts and reconnected in the mid-2000s when Rachel was launching her solo career and Alex was still trying to make it as an actor in Los Angeles.
They got engaged in June 2008 after 18 months of dating and tied the knot at Claridge’s in London the following year.
The pair walked down the aisle to S Club 7’s hit Never Had A Dream Come True and her bandmates – Bradley McIntosh, Hannah Spearritt, Jo O’Meara, Jon Lee, Paul Cattermole and Tina Barrett – were there to watch them say ‘I do’.
Rachel announced she had separated from her childhood sweetheart, Alex, in July 2022, just one month shy of their 13-year anniversary.
Alex and new wife Lily then got engaged last summer on Hampstead Heath after meeting earlier that year.
Rachel and Alex’s two daughters, Amelie, 12, and Minnie, nine, were both in attendance at the wedding and were both bridesmaids.
