Tina Turner Once Said Ike Turner Used Weapons During Brutal Beatings: 'I Laughed Because I Knew I Was Leaving'

A whole year has elapsed since Tina Turner has died, but her captivating life continues to hold global attention.

Though widely recognized for her commitment to Buddhism, which she said was instrumental in her healing from her turbulent union with Ike Turner, fewer people are acquainted with an equally fascinating episode from her spiritual odyssey — a psychic's uncanny foresight regarding her future triumphs.

In a 1981 interview republished by PEOPLE, the Grammy Award winner delved into the depths of her spiritual convictions and encounters, shedding light on her profound beliefs and experiences.

In the magazine's "50 Years of Stars" feature, Turner unveiled the grim reality of her 16-year marriage to Ike. She recounted the terror she faced and the pivotal moment that drove her to break free, which was the moment Ike attacked her in the back of a limo in Dallas.

"Ike was feeling a little irritable that day and hit me with the back of his hand," Turner stated of that day on July 1, 1976.

"I wagged my finger at him, saying, 'All right, you.' Then he beat me the entire way from the airport to the hotel," she continued. "When he fought he used things, and not just his hands. By the time we got to the hotel, the left side of my face was swollen like a monster's. I never cried, though. I laughed. I laughed because I knew I was leaving. No more of this."

Upon arrival at their accommodations, "The Best" singer remembered extending a gesture of kindness to Ike by offering him a massage.

"Can I order you any food, dear?" she gently inquired before he drifted into slumber.

For Turner, that moment marked her departure. With a mere 36 cents and a Mobil credit card in her possession, she was determined but distressed. Nonetheless, she managed to convince a friend to secure a plane ticket for her from their location to Los Angeles.

Three years later, Tina Turner would ascend to the pinnacle of stardom as a megastar, fulfilling a prophecy once foretold by a psychic. The clairvoyant had prophesied, "You will be among the biggest of stars. A partner of yours will fall, like a leaf from a tree in autumn. You will survive and go on."

Ike Turner, real name Izear Luster "Ike" Turner Jr., died on December 12, 2007. He was discovered unresponsive by his ex-wife Ann Thomas at his California home. He was 76.

Turner, affectionately called the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll," was the lead singer of Ike & Tina Turner, the husband-wife duo who sung hits like "Nutbush City Limits" (1973) and "Baby Get it On" (1975).

The Tennessee native went on to enjoy a successful career as a solo performer and trailblazer, who once held the Guinness World Record for the largest paying audience for a solo performer (180,000 in 1998).

She died after battling multiple illnesses including stroke, high blood pressure and cancer on May 24, 2023 in Switzerland. Her body was cremated after a private family funeral.

She was 83.

Tags

Tina Turner, Domestic abuse, Celebrity interview, People magazine