The truth about Tina Turner’s agonizing final years and the many health issues she struggled with leading up to her death has been exposed at length since the music icon’s death at the age of 83.
Her strength and resilience throughout those years has been celebrated by many of her friends, family and fans in recent days – but now a person who knew her better than most ever could have spoken about the very personal pain Tina felt which she was struggling with long before she was diagnosed with an illness.
In her first interview since Tina’s death earlier this week, Proud Mary singer Afida’s daughter-in-law opens up about the incredible heartache she has endured as a mother to two four children – two of whom she tragically survived.
Speaking exclusively to from her home in France, Afida, 46, who is also a musician like her mother-in-law, revealed the truth about Tina’s heartbreaking fears that her son Ronnie would become ‘like his abusive father’ Ike Turner – and the Grief over the suicide of her other son, Craig, which clouded her life until her death.
She also revealed the family’s shock at Tina’s death, admitting that despite knowing she had been ill for so long, her strength and resilience made them all believe she would live forever.
Tina Turner’s daughter-in-law has openly expressed the late singer’s grief over her children’s struggles – just days after the icon (seen in 1987) passed away at the age of 83
Afida Turner, 46, was married to Ronnie, Tina’s son to her ex-husband Ike Turner, for 16 years before he passed away in December 2022 after a brief battle with colon cancer
In a very candid interview with , Afida revealed Tina’s ongoing heartache over her son Craig’s suicide – and her fears that Ronnie (seen with his brother) would “become like” his abusive father Ike Turner
“She was ill for a long time, but she was also exceptionally strong,” Afida shared. “She fought for her life from 2017 to now. “We knew how ill she was, but she was doing so well that it was not to be expected.”
Over the years, Tina has suffered from a number of serious health issues, including high blood pressure that led to a stroke and kidney failure, colon cancer, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Still, Afida says her death shook her surviving family members to the core.
News of Tina’s death came as an even greater shock to the family as they are still grappling with their deep sorrow at the loss of their son, Afida’s late husband Ronnie, who died of colon cancer in December – just five months earlier his mother passed away.
It was an almost unthinkable tragedy for Tina, who, as Afida says, was already “extremely ill” when her son died and who was already suffering the loss of a son, Craig, who shot himself in 2018 at the age of 59 .
According to Afida, the loss of Craig was a heartache that Tina carried with her every day — even as she struggled with her own ailing health.
According to Afida, the loss of Craig was a heartache that Tina carried with her every day — even as she struggled with her own ailing health.
“When you lose a child or a loved one, you will cry every morning and night.”
However, she says that Tina has found strength in her Buddhist faith, adding that the only faint light to come from her mother-in-law’s death is the knowledge that she is finally reunited with her sons.
“They never had time to hang out and now all three of them are together,” she said.
Afida spoke to from her home in France about her “shock” at Tina’s death, explaining that the family was stunned when the singer passed away
Afida, like Tina, pursued a career in music – and she believes it was her resemblance to the singer that made Ronnie fall in love with her
Afida says that Tina (who appears with Ronnie, Afida and Craig) warned her about her son early in their relationship
Tina (seen in 1972 with ex-husband Ike and their four children) was terrified that Ronnie (below left) would abuse his wife in the same way his father did
Craig was Tina’s only child from her relationship with Kings of Rhythm saxophonist Raymond Hill and she gave birth to him when she was just 18 years old. Upon hearing the news of his suicide, Tina expressed her shock, admitting in a public statement at the time that she had thought he was happier than ever after finding love with a woman he loved his mother wanted to introduce.
“I still don’t know what brought him to the edge,” she told the BBC. “Because at that point he had said to me that he had never met a woman he had feelings for like that.
“He brought her to me [for] his birthday in August. He had decorated his apartment that I had bought him years ago.
“I have no idea what got him down other than something that haunted him with loneliness.” I think it had something to do with being alone.’
Just five years after Craig’s death, Tina lost her second son, Ronnie, to a severe form of colon cancer that took his life just three weeks after diagnosis – a loss that left both his mother and wife “traumatized”. Afida says.
We knew how ill she was, but she was doing so well that it was not to be expected.
“It destroyed me. “It traumatized me,” she openly admitted. “It was difficult for me to stay at home, I lost weight.”
“Tina was already very ill [when Ronnie was diagnosed]she couldn’t fly to Los Angeles and [care for him]. I had to do everything by myself.’
Although Tina has been too ill to care for her son for the past few weeks, according to Afida, her notorious “force of nature and perseverance” was clearly on display in Ronnie, even as he battled the cancer that was so rapidly ravaging his health.
She explained that it was a testament to the family’s incredible resilience that they both remained so strong in their final weeks on Earth.
“I think it’s force of nature and perseverance,” she said. “I believe you were born that way.” You are born with their energy. Ronnie was like that too. He was so strong. He never got sick.
“Once he was in the snow with his long dreadlocks and I thought you’re about to get sick and he was like, ‘No, I’m not getting sick!’ “They both had very strong genes.”
Although Ronnie inherited his mother’s incredible spirit, Afida revealed that for years Tina feared he would “become like his father Ike” – who the singer said had inflicted years of hellish abuse on her throughout their marriage, beginning on their wedding night when she revealed him forced her to visit a brothel.
When Ronnie (pictured) and Afida met, he said he began exhibiting behavior that indicated he recognized his mother’s fears
Tina has spoken many times about the abuse she believes she suffered at the hands of Ike (seen together in 1963) and revealed how he forced her to visit a brothel on their wedding night
Ronnie’s death came just four years after his older brother Craig (along with his mother) killed himself at his Studio City home at the age of 59. Afida says Tina never got over his death
In an incredible admission, Afida says that Tina – who also adopted two of Ike’s sons from a previous relationship – actually warned her about Ronnie in the early years of their relationship for fear she might expose another woman to the kind of abuse she She says she’s been at her husband’s hands for so long
‘[Tina] sometimes told me, “You don’t want to stay with him. He will be like his father,” Afida shared. “It’s pretty rare for a mother to say that.”
She admits that early on in her relationship with Ronnie it seemed like Tina’s fears might come true and admits that her partner initially showed signs of the behavior his mother had warned her against.
“He was a bit like his dad at first, but after that he was really good,” she revealed, noting that she made it clear to Ronnie that if his behavior continued, she wouldn’t stay with him.
“He tried very hard to keep me.” “It was very difficult at first because I wasn’t willing to stay with him.”
Prior to his meeting with Afida, Ronnie had been arrested on multiple drug-related charges in the past and was arrested in August 1999 for cocaine possession – authorities claimed he sold the drugs.
The arrest comes just two years after he was convicted two years earlier of possessing a controlled substance, as well as selling a controlled substance in 1987 and possessing cocaine in 1988.
Ronnie’s cocaine use was a harrowing echo of his father’s struggles that eventually took his life when he died of a cocaine overdose on December 12, 2007.
Afida believes Ronnie struggled during his childhood – during which his parents mostly worked – and explains that instead of the time he would have liked to spend with his father, Ike offered him financial rewards and lavish gifts.
Speaking about Ronnie’s death in December 2022, Afida (pictured with her husband and Tina) said his death “traumatized” her.
When Afida first met Ronnie (seen together in 2007), she said he was a “heavy drinker” but insists he changed his behavior long before he was diagnosed with cancer
‘[Ronnie] “was extremely sensitive,” she revealed. “He told me his dad gave him $100 every day.” He, Craig, Mike and Ike Jr. got the best gifts from Ike when they got back from the tour. He told me Ike bought a Porsche for Craig.
When Afida first met Ronnie, she said he was a “heavy drinker” but insists he changed his behavior long before he was diagnosed with cancer.
“I got him to stop drinking and go to the gym.” “He was doing really well,” she recalls.
But in 2022, Ronnie’s health suddenly took a turn for the worse — and Afida came home from a tour to find he was incredibly ill.
“I was on tour for two weeks. “I came back and his stomach was huge,” she revealed.
“I knew right away something was wrong.” He said, “When you’re on tour, you don’t cook for me. So I only eat burgers.”
“But I knew it [his condition was not caused by] a citizen. So I just took him to the emergency room for a scan. For ten years he had blood tests every month because he was a heavy drinker.’
The couple were given the devastating diagnosis of colon cancer – but Afida says Ronnie was ready to fight the disease with the same fighting spirit his mother had for most of her life.
“Once we got the results that it was colon cancer, we were ready for chemotherapy,” she revealed. “And a week after the result he passed away.” And now his mother has passed away.’
Afida says Tina’s husband, Erwin Bach, who she dated for 27 years prior to their 2013 marriage, is currently in the process of organizing her funeral
Still devastated by her husband’s death, Afida says she found little comfort in knowing that Ronnie and Tina are now reunited – along with Craig.
And like Tina has for so long, Afida wants to find solace in her music — something she says was an important part of her strong bond with her mother-in-law and their shared, larger-than-life personalities.
“I’m very honest and sometimes I can be very shocking,” jokes Afida.[Tina] was the same. Sometimes people are just shocked [when they see me], like “Oh my god.” When she first saw me she was a little shocked. But after we talked, she wasn’t shocked at all.’
She also believes that her similarities to Tina helped lay the foundation for her longstanding relationship with Ronnie, who she says always struggled to find a woman who understood him the way his mother did.
“Maybe that’s why Ronnie was so into me because he didn’t think much of women,” she said. “A woman was never good enough for him.”
Afida says she doesn’t yet know the exact plans for Tina’s funeral — but she was quick to pay tribute to her mother-in-law’s husband, Erwin Bach, whom she praised for being a great support to the singer through many years.
“She has a funeral, but I’m not the one who organized it,” she explained. “I’m not the one doing this.” Her husband takes care of that. She has a husband who takes care of all of this and has done so for many years.
“He did well too.” He helped her well.”
Until Afida can say goodbye to Tina at her official funeral, she says she will continue to honor her legacy with the rest of the world — while also taking solace in the bittersweet knowledge that her mother-in-law is reunited with her children who teach her loved so much.
“Tina Turner will be with us forever. Rest in peace with your two sons, Ron and Craig. I love you all very much.’