Paloma Faith has revealed what caused the breakdown of her marriage to husband Leyman Lahcine.
The singer, 43, tied the knot with the French artist, 37, in 2017 and they welcomed two daughters together, before they split in 2022 after nine years together.
In an interview with Davina McCall on her Begin Again podcast, Paloma discussed their separation, why she has deleted all her dating apps and the struggles of being a single mother.
Paloma said problems in the relationship began when they were trying to conceive as doctors discovered an issue with Leyman’s fertility.
The songstress said she felt ‘resentment’ build up as they began the process of IVF, when she knew she could conceive naturally.
Paloma Faith has revealed what caused the breakdown of her marriage to husband Leyman Lahcine
The singer, 43, tied the knot with the French artist, 37, in 2017 and they welcomed two daughters together, before they split in 2022 after nine years together (pictured in 2018)
Paloma had to take hormone medications that help stimulate the ovaries and prepare the uterine lining for the procedure.
She said: ‘When we first started trying, I had previously become pregnant quite easily and so I was concerned. It does irritate me that science, because it is mainly dominated by men, is that if it is a male fertility problem, which it was in our case, it is still the woman that has to endure the brunt of the stuff.
‘There has been no breakthrough. He was devastated the whole time and said: “If there’s something I can take, or I can do injections. Why does it have to fall on you?”
‘But it did, and it does. He was empathetic but I think that put a strain on our relationship in itself because his view was “you’re so hardworking, breadwinner and all I had to do was this and I can’t do it.”
She continued: ‘It was difficult because I knew I could just conceive naturally and I think that put a strain on us because I’m not someone who buries my feelings. I just say “this is frustrating”.’
Paloma spoke about how the birth of their first child was traumatic and she could barely walk for three months due to a uterine infection after an emergency C-section.
The singer also said she suffered from post-partum depression which she didn’t realise until a few yearss later.
Paloma told Davina: ‘The birth was not ideal and then when we came to lockdown the fertility clinic called me and said “we’re still open, do you want to have another baby?”.
In an interview with Davina McCall on her Begin Again podcast, Paloma discussed their separation, why she has deleted all her dating apps and the struggles of being a single mother
Paloma said she is now feeling the ‘sexiest’ she’s ever felt as she chatted to host Davina
‘I said to him: “I really want another baby, I’m not working as much. I’ve got more time to relax. Can I do it?”
‘He said: “I don’t think we’ll make it as a couple”.
‘I felt resentment, I just felt alone. There’s this mid-life thing and you’re looking at a perimenopause around the corner. It was the last chance saloon.
‘I just had it in my head, I need to give this child a sibling. I felt like a single parent even in a relationship.’
Paloma said they went through couple therapy and later separation therapy. She now has a ‘good relationship’ with Leyman.
‘We have a lot of respect for each other. We still say I love you. It will be difficult for the person I end up with but it has to be that way,’ the singer said.
‘Initially [the split] was terrible, we began again and we remembered all the bits we liked about each other. I still think he is one of my best friends.
‘Sometimes if we are emotional or tired we get a bit upset about that. We’re also grateful that there is a friendship.’
However, Paloma said she still ‘feels exhausted by motherhood’ and ‘sometimes my kids even perpetuate the in-balance’ when it comes to parental care.
Elsewhere in the interview, the songstress spoke about why she has given up on dating apps, after trying them several times.
She said: ‘I’ve been on dating apps, definitely don’t want to date someone who is a big fan of my music
‘I think dating apps is a melting pot of damaged and a lot of men go on there for an ego boost. Maybe I was a bit naïve when I did it. I don’t think I would go on it again. I have deleted it.’
Paloma said she is now feeling the ‘sexiest’ she’s ever felt and is hesitant about dating again as she is much more ‘fussy’ than she previously was.