Gloria Gaynor reveals why divorce with Linwood Simon 26 years ago was ‘extremely liberating’
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Gloria Gaynor has no regrets about calling off her marriage 26 years ago! The ‘I Will Survive’ singer separated from her husband-manager Linwood Simon and she had a strong reason to go ahead with this decision. In an interview, she revealed that her husband didn’t care about her and that’s when she knew enough was enough. "I said, 'OK, I'm done. You really, truly don't care about me, and I'm done.' I'd have to be freakin' comatose not to get that," she said. "My friend nailed it when she said it was disregarded. You don't know how painful that can be until you experience it. [Leaving him] was extremely liberating," added Gaynor.
The Grammy-winning artist married Simon in 1979 and shared that she longed for security which she found in Simon since her father was never there for her during childhood. Gaynor told that she had ‘wonder moments’ together, but their relationship lacked balance. “[I] swallowed whatever he said and did whatever he said and just let him have his way," she explained. The 79-year-old said, "I absolutely believe in love. Whether it's in the cards for me, I sincerely doubt it, 'cause I'm truly not interested anymore. If it happens, it happens. If not, I'm good. It's a wonderful place to be," said Gaynor.
READ MORE
Lizzo recently performed Gaynor's 'I Will Survive' at Coachella
The singer who’d be celebrating her birthday in September will also mark the 45th anniversary of her most cherished song ‘I Will Survive’ in October. It was the classic disco anthem, which was originally the B-side to her single ‘Substitute,’ but turned out to be a huge hit after gaining popularity on the radio. Interestingly, Harry Styles bought Lizzo on stage to sing it during his Coachella performance, and Miley Cyrus' billboard top song ‘Flowers.’
'I have used that song'
"I have not only survived, I have thrived," Gaynor shares. "I really think a lot of it has to do with the fact that whenever I'm going through something, I have used that song." Her Interview will be published in the latest issue of People, out this Friday, March 10. Gaynor was trending during the peak of the Coronavirus pandemic after she decided to launch #IWILLSURVIVECHALLENGE on TikTok appealing to people to wash their hands properly.
In the short clip, the singer is seen washing and lathering up her hands, while singing along to the chorus of her popular song 'I Will Survive'. Gaynor was doing her bit in encouraging people to wash their hands for about 20 seconds each time, in order to prevent the coronavirus from spreading further, reports MEAWW.