Irish singer reveals how love affair with Ian Rush blossomed
Anthony, 30, from Cork, who uses the stage name Havana, initially denied the relationship when it broke in the British tabloid press during the summer. She was blamed for the breakdown of 51-year-old Rush’s 26-year marriage to Tracey.
But in an interview with a Sunday newspaper, Anthony, whose 2012 marriage to Cork publican Bernard Murphy ended after six months, confirmed she and Rush are partners, and revealed how the relationship blossomed.
“Ian and I have been close friends for a while. I never thought it would turn into a relationship and even now, I’m not sure where my life will end up romantically, but I can honestly say that he’s one of my best friends and we are now partners. The relationship got serious this summer,” she said.
“We have a good understanding of one another and people think we’re good together.”
She said she was close to a breakdown during the summer when news of the love affair broke. She said she drank too much wine and “lost a few weeks”.
“I was so lost when all the media controversy broke and I couldn’t see a way through it and I think we definitely grew closer at that point,” she said.
“I needed someone and he was there without even asking, in a selfless and caring way.
“He saw exactly what I was going through first-hand and he was surprised at the way some of the media treated me.
“It was like I had committed a crime. I hadn’t — and only the people who were involved knew exactly what was going on.
“The more I tried to defend myself through the media, the more it sounded bizarre, but in the end I decided that I wasn’t going to let negative people get me down.”
She described Rush as honest, warm, shy and very caring and said she appreciates the little things he does — holding doors, holding bags and listening.
Anthony is now represented by Max Clifford’s public relations firm, and managed by Simon Napier-Bell, who managed Wham.
Following a legal row over her new album, it is now ready for release in Germany next year, followed by releases in South America and Japan.
She has been advised to break her music in bigger markets where her collaborations with artists such as Tyga, Jadakiss and Busta Rhymes will be accepted.
And Napier-Bell has done a deal with her on the new reality TV show, Living with Legends, she is involved with for RTÉ.
Anthony, who has been involved in the music business for a decade, was signed to Universal Records when she notched up three top-20 hits in the urban, commercial pop and club charts.
She has shared stages with Westlife and Elton John and commanded appearance fees of up to €10,000.
But she was forced to rethink her career, and ended her relationship with Universal, after a horse riding accident left her bed-ridden for weeks.
