Ishawna Backs Cindy Breakspeare And Bob Marley’s Affair
Dancehall artist Ishawna is backing beauty queen Cindy Breakspeare amid the backlash she’s receiving for being a proud mistress of late reggae icon Bob Marley.
In a quick post-and-delete, the Everybody Need Someone singer shared a 2020 clip of Breakspeare’s 876 Questions feature, addressing those who haven’t forgiven her for having an affair with Rita Marley’s husband.
“Do you understand what a privilege it is to be intimately and inextricably associated with the greatest legacy that has come out of Jamaica in 100 years?” the 1976 Miss World said. “Do they understand what that feels like? What kind of blessing that is? You can’t wish that away. You wouldn’t want to take that away from anybody. You gon’ just have to stay over there and figure it out.”
The clip then segued into an edit of Ishawna’s Cheerful Giver playing over a photo of Marley and Breakspeare. The 2015 track states that “a gyal haffi go share har man”, and lauds wives who make room for concubines. Topping off the post, Ishawna wrote, “The girls that get it get it! #OneCindy.”
The hashtag was taken on by a few fans who reshared the post, soon deleted by the Equal Rights hitmaker.
Though Breakspeare is no stranger to making a tribute post for Marley’s birthday on February 6, this year’s post was the first to be picked up by American blogs.
Breakspare’s 2024 tribute post for Marley’s birthday on February 6 reminisced on their rendezvous here, there and everywhere, which saw some netizens blasting her for openly speaking about their affair while the Marley matriarch still lives.
The No Woman No Cry singer, who wedded Rita in 1966, started seeing Breakspeare in 1975. His feelings for her are documented on the tracks Turn Your Lights Down Low and Waiting in Vain, for which Rita provided background vocals as part of her husband’s I-Threes group. Two of her children recently defended her honour following criticism of her loyalty to their father.
During the 2014 Bob Marley lecture at the University of the West Indies, Breakspeare said she didn’t know he was still married until she gave birth to their son Damian ‘Jr Gong’ Marley. The women were by his side as he fought and ultimately succumbed to cancer in 1981.
In that same 876 Questions sitdown, Breakspeare, currently married to musician Rupert Bent II and ex-wife of senate president Tom Tavares-Finson, said critics will eventually get over her life choices.
“Everybody get their life to live…” she said. “How would I ever sit here and rather not have Damian in my life, or not have the awesome relationship that I had with Bob?”
She also acknowledged those who admire what she shared with the singer.
“I appreciate that support very much and it has been never-ending,” she said. “I’ve gotten it all the time and it’s wonderful. There again, it’s just part of the blessings that have become the fabric of my life.”