Rachel Stevens has shared a series of reflective Instagram posts about boundaries, manipulation and self-worth after confirming the end of her relationship with Dancing On Ice professional Brendyn Hatfield.
The S Club 7 singer, 47, and Hatfield, 40, who were partnered on the ITV show in 2022 and went public with their romance in November 2023, announced their split earlier this week after three years together, media outlets reported.
Stevens posted a photograph of herself on Tuesday accompanied by a series of inspirational quotes that mentioned "poor behaviour, gaslighting, unkindness and manipulation" and urged followers to set boundaries and protect their emotional well-being. The posts included lines such as "Sometimes we have to remind ourselves that we are not responsible for other people’s poor behavior toward us, or their gaslighting, or their manipulation, or their unkindness" and "One of the best boundaries you can have is simply not letting other people's energy bring down your emotions."
Insiders told the Daily Mail that Stevens's posts were not directed at any one person and are consistent with content she regularly shares about self-development. The Daily Mail reported that it had contacted representatives for both Stevens and Hatfield for comment.
A friend of the couple told The Sun that the split was recent and "incredibly sad," saying both Stevens and Hatfield concluded there was "no way forward for them." The friend said Stevens had taken her two daughters to Marbella for space, and that Hatfield and his young son had moved out of the family home into a flat. The friend added there remained "a lot of affection" and that the couple's priority had been their children.
Stevens was previously married to actor and real estate agent Alex Bourne from 2009 to 2022. She and Hatfield were first paired on Dancing On Ice in 2022 and publicly celebrated aspects of their relationship on social media: in January Stevens posted photographs calling Hatfield her "soulmate and love" as she marked his 40th birthday.
There has been no public comment from Stevens or Hatfield directly addressing the content of the Instagram posts or the particulars of their separation. Reports indicate the couple had been trying to navigate a blended family before deciding to part ways. Media coverage of the split has focused on the couple's shared parenting responsibilities and the private steps each has taken since the break-up.
The Instagram posts come amid a pattern of public messaging from Stevens about self-care and personal boundaries. Representatives contacted by outlets did not provide additional details beyond confirming that the posts are a regular feature of Stevens's online presence and not explicitly tied to the relationship, according to the Daily Mail.