The Final Word: 5 Definitive Statements Tina Turner Made About Ike And Her Hard-Won Freedom

The enduring, complex, and often painful story of Tina Turner and Ike Turner remains one of the most scrutinized relationships in music history. Despite the tragic nature of her 16-year marriage to the bandleader, the ultimate narrative of Tina's life is one of unparalleled resilience and triumph, a story she meticulously controlled and redefined until her death in May 2023. As of late 2025, the most current and definitive perspective on Ike comes directly from Tina’s final interviews, her 2018 memoir My Love Story, and the 2021 documentary Tina—all of which show a woman who had firmly closed the chapter on her abuser and found profound peace.

The "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll" spent the latter half of her life ensuring her legacy was not defined by the abuse she suffered, but by the strength she found in escaping it. Her final statements on Ike are not filled with rage, but with a quiet, powerful finality, emphasizing her hard-won freedom and the love she later found with her husband, Erwin Bach.

The Life and Legacy of Anna Mae Bullock (Tina Turner)

Tina Turner, born Anna Mae Bullock, was an American-born Swiss singer, songwriter, and actress who became a global icon. Her life story is a testament to survival, reinvention, and phenomenal success in the face of immense personal hardship. Her journey from the cotton fields of Nutbush, Tennessee, to the world's biggest stages is one for the history books.

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• Full Name: Anna Mae Bullock
• Born: November 26, 1939, Nutbush, Tennessee, U.S.
• Died: May 24, 2023 (aged 83), Küsnacht, Switzerland
• Spouses: Ike Turner (m. 1962; div. 1978), Erwin Bach (m. 2013)
• Children: Craig Raymond Turner (deceased), Ronald Renelle Turner (deceased), Ike Turner Jr., Michael Turner
• Key Collaborations: Ike & Tina Turner Revue, Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Eros Ramazzotti
• Nickname: The Queen of Rock 'n' Roll
• Notable Works: Private Dancer (1984), What's Love Got to Do with It (1993 film/soundtrack), River Deep – Mountain High, The Best
• Memoirs: I, Tina (1986), My Love Story (2018)

The 16-Year Nightmare: A Relationship Defined by Abuse

The musical partnership between Ike and Tina Turner, known as the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, produced some of the most dynamic performances and iconic songs of the 1960s and 70s, including "Proud Mary" and "River Deep – Mountain High." Behind the scenes, however, the relationship was a nightmare of domestic abuse, drug use, infidelity, and control.

The marriage, which began in 1962 and ended in 1978, was characterized by relentless physical and emotional violence from Ike. Tina detailed the horrific extent of the abuse in her 1986 memoir, I, Tina, and again in her 2018 autobiography, My Love Story. The abuse was so severe that she attempted suicide at one point, swallowing 50 sleeping pills before a show.

For years, the public was largely unaware of the private torment Tina endured. Her decision to speak out in a 1981 interview with People magazine was a groundbreaking moment, making her one of the first major celebrities to publicly discuss domestic violence. This act of courage was the first step in reclaiming her narrative and her identity.

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The 1993 biographical film, What's Love Got to Do with It, starring Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne, brought the story to a global audience, cementing the public’s understanding of the trauma she overcame. While the film was a massive success, Tina later confessed that revisiting the memories for the movie was deeply painful and she had to "relive the pain" of her past.

Tina's Definitive Stance: 5 Statements on Ike and Her Freedom

In the decades following her divorce, Tina Turner’s perspective on Ike evolved from a need to expose the truth to a state of profound, spiritual detachment. Her final, most powerful statements show her absolute refusal to let the trauma define her or overshadow her later life of happiness with her second husband, Erwin Bach.

1. "Ike's Dead. So We Don't Have to Worry About Him."

This is arguably Tina Turner's most definitive and final statement on her ex-husband. In a 2018 interview with The New York Times, she used this quote to describe the sense of closure she felt after his death in 2007. The statement is not one of celebration, but a simple, matter-of-fact declaration that the threat and the shadow of her abuser were finally gone. It signifies a complete emotional and psychological break, declaring that her past was "dead and buried."

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2. The Harrowing Escape: "I Was Living a Life of Death."

The details of her escape in 1976 are central to her story of resilience. In her memoir and the 2021 documentary Tina, she recounts the moment she fled from Ike. On July 3, 1976, while traveling from the Dallas airport to a hotel, Ike punched her repeatedly. She fought back, and in a moment of sheer desperation, ran across the busy Interstate 30 with only 36 cents in her pocket.

She later described the years of abuse as "living a life of death," a powerful metaphor for the soul-crushing nature of the domestic violence she endured. Her escape to a Ramada Inn was not just a physical act, but the beginning of her rebirth as an independent woman and artist.

3. On Forgiveness: A Measured Detachment

Years after Ike's death, Tina discussed the concept of forgiveness, but her view was nuanced. She acknowledged that she had "let go of the animosity" but made it clear that this forgiveness was for her own peace, not for reconciliation. "It was time to stop hating Ike," she wrote. "I didn't want to sit around holding on to that anger." This act of emotional release allowed her to safeguard her heart and move forward without the burden of resentment.

4. The Cost of Fame: The Burden of Sharing Her Story

Despite the therapeutic value for others, Tina felt a burden in constantly having to retell her story. The 2021 documentary *Tina* was intended to be her final word on the subject. She expressed a desire for people to focus on her later life, her musical achievements, and her happy marriage to German music executive Erwin Bach, rather than perpetually dwelling on the Ike chapter. She wanted her legacy to be about her solo career, which produced hits like "Private Dancer" and "The Best," and her role as the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll."

5. Finding True Love: The Contrast with Erwin Bach

Tina Turner’s ultimate perspective on Ike is best understood in the context of her relationship with Erwin Bach, whom she met in 1986 and married in 2013. Erwin Bach, who was 16 years her junior, brought her the stability, respect, and deep affection she had never known.

She referred to Bach as her "light" and the man who showed her what true love felt like. Her life with Bach in Switzerland was the antithesis of her life with Ike. This profound, loving relationship served as the final, most powerful statement against the darkness of her past, proving that a second act of happiness was possible after surviving severe trauma. Her final years were spent in tranquility, a testament to her strength and the freedom she fought so hard to secure.