Amy Winehouse’s former husband Blake Fielder-Civil has addressed long-standing claims that he was responsible for the singer’s death, pushing back on the narrative that has followed him for years.
Winehouse died aged 27 at her home in London in July 2011. A coroner later ruled her death was caused by alcohol poisoning, with no illegal substances found in her system.
“I never shirk from responsibility”
Speaking on the We Need to Talk podcast, Fielder-Civil acknowledged public perception but rejected the idea that he was to blame.
“A lot of people… would have an idea that Amy’s passing is my responsibility,” he said.
“As I’ve always said, I never shirk from any responsibility. If I’ve done something, I’ll put my hand up to it.”
The couple were married between 2007 and 2009. At the time of Winehouse’s death, Fielder-Civil was serving a prison sentence for theft.
Addressing drug use claims
Fielder-Civil also spoke about their past drug use, confirming he was present when Winehouse first tried heroin, but insisted she had already been using other substances beforehand.
“I never blamed a person that gave me drugs for the first time,” he said.
“Do these people think that I forced Amy to do drugs? That’s just not what happened.”
“Amy had agency”
Elsewhere in the interview, he described their relationship as shaped by youth and addiction, while emphasising Winehouse’s independence.
“Amy herself had agency,” he said.
“Amy did what she wanted to do… even though the drinking had started to hurt her, she carried on.”
He added that he does not believe Winehouse would want him to continue carrying sole blame.
“I know Amy wouldn’t want me to still be sat here… saying it was all my fault. She’d be saying, ‘Get it right… tell them the truth.’”
A story that still resonates
More than a decade on, Winehouse’s death continues to spark discussion around fame, addiction and media narratives. Fielder-Civil’s latest comments are likely to reignite debate about responsibility, public perception and the way her story has been told.
