Back to Black, the biopic detailing the life of Amy Winehouse, was released in the U.K. this week. Reviews of the film have been mixed, with critics praising Marisa Abela, who stars as Winehouse, for her performance, but noting that the film itself is less than stellar. The Independent went as far as calling Back to Black "cringeworthy" and having "many faults."
Blake Fielder-Civil, Winehouse's ex-husband, appeared on Good Morning Britain to discuss the film and his relationship with Winehouse. He is played by Jack O'Connell in the film. Fielder-Civil remains a controversial figure in Winehouse's life.
"Friends of the late singer have slammed it for being too sympathetic to Blake," said host Kate Garrawa.
The Standard reported that Fielder-Civil was "banned from [Winehouse's] funeral by her family" as they "blamed him for enabling Winehouse's drug usage and introducing her to heroin despite her addictive character." Winehouse died of alcohol poisoning in 2011. She was 27 years old.
"You recognize that person, but it's not that person," he said.
In 2018, Fielder-Civil took to Good Morning Britain to clarify his role in Winehouse's life and drug use.
"The drug thing is something that's been attributed to me for years. The fact is that me and Amy only used drugs together, maybe six months of our marriage. That was it. And before that, Amy didn't use drugs," he said in the interview.
In his appearance on the British morning talk show this week, Fielder-Civil provided his side of the narrative.
Fielder-Civil told Garrawa and her co-host, Adil Ray, that it was a "fair portrayal" of the real life events. He described the experience of seeing him and Winehouse on the big screen as "surreal." Garrawa continued to press Fielder-Civil about his relationship with Winehouse and their struggles with addiction
"It wasn't all about addiction," he said. "As much as that might have been the salacious headlines, and the paparazzi's goal, there was addiction, but it was only an aspect."
Garrawa questioned him further, asking if he felt "any level, any kind of responsibility" for Winehouse's addiction and subsequent death.
Ray echoed this, asking "Do you sometimes go to bed at night thinking 'I wish I hadn't probably done that, or I had done that."
Fielder-Civil appeared caught off guard when Garraway said that introducing Winehouse to heroin "must be a big regret."
"I have mine," he said. He continued, explaining that their relationship was built on "genuine love."
"I loved Amy very much, and she loved me too. If there was anything that would bring her back I would obviously [do it,]" he said.
Fielder-Civil said that watching his and Winehouse's story play out in Back to Black was "almost therapeutic."
"I'm in a much better place than the person I recognize in the film. It took me a while, but yeah."
Back to Black, directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, releases in the United States on May 17.
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