Inside Marvin Gaye's Toxic Marriage With Wife Janis Hunter

As reported by the New York Post, Gaye and Hunter's initial attraction was strong and undeniable. By the time his wife was in her early 20s, though, and mother to two children, Gaye's eyes began to wander as his substance use issues worsened. Gaye had also encouraged Hunter to engage in sex acts with other people for his enjoyment prior to their marriage, but she never agreed, per New York Post.

As Janis Hunter recalls in her memoir, she was in her early 20s when Marvin Gaye coerced her into a nonconsensual sex act with another couple, and she relented against her will. In this instance, the musician did not participate in the act himself, but only observed, per the New York Post. Even though Gaye continued to be abusive, the couple stayed together until 1982. After writing her book and dealing with her trauma, Hunter has made peace with her experience, as she explained in an interview with New York Radio WBLS, available on YouTube, adding that she's particularly grateful for her beautiful children. "That I lost myself in someone else — someone as remarkable as Marvin Gaye — is no longer cause for self-condemnation," she wrote in her book.

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

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