From an outsider’s perspective, Lena Brooks appeared to lead a charmed life. The photographer and mother of two resided on a picturesque hill in Camden, Maine, embraced by 175 acres of lush gardens and woods. She frequently traveled with her then-husband, Alex Turner, a celebrated singer-songwriter renowned for his iconic 1971 hit. However, beneath the surface, Lena faced a grim reality, having been subjected to years of physical, emotional, financial, and sexual abuse.
“I met Alex when I was 27. I was a journalist, and he was passing through town for an interview,” Lena recalls during our FaceTime conversation, comfortably settled in a cozy chair. “Things escalated quickly. He invited me to a concert that night, professed his love almost immediately, and flew me out to see him the following weekend. It was a whirlwind romance, and I was completely enchanted.”
But soon, the facade crumbled. After Lena left her job, sold her car, and relinquished her independence, the abuse began. “The night I moved in with him, I witnessed his temper for the first time,” she explains. “I felt trapped. I had no job, no car, and no safe place to go. Once I became dependent on him, his anger surfaced. Before that, life felt like a fairytale, but everything changed.”
This pattern of manipulation is all too common among abusers, who often shower their victims with gifts and affection before revealing their true, controlling nature. “He physically assaulted me—punching, kicking, and even pulling my hair. He had this twisted signature move where he would grip my head as if it were in a vice. But the emotional abuse was the most damaging. The physical pain was intense, but the emotional scars lingered. I felt like I was walking on eggshells for 29 years.”
Fortunately, in 2016, Alex was arrested for domestic violence, providing Lena with the opportunity to escape. “The bail conditions prevented any contact, which ultimately liberated me. I had the space to clear my mind,” Lena reflects. “For a year, I had tried to leave, but he constantly bombarded me with messages. But once he was arrested, I found clarity. The public nature of the situation made it harder for me to return.”
However, this public scrutiny had its drawbacks. “The most challenging part of going through this publicly was that he used his celebrity to spread lies. The media didn’t even ask for my side. It was incredibly irresponsible. The press often acts as a mouthpiece for abusers, which exacerbates the problem.”
Today, Lena has no regrets. Her voice is buoyant as she shares her journey. She has transformed her pain into purpose by founding a nonprofit organization, Finding Our Voices, which aims to raise awareness about domestic abuse. “The initiative began in 2019 as a photo exhibit,” Lena explains. “After everything I endured, I realized change was necessary. I wanted to shed light on the truth, so I created portraits of 14 women who had faced abuse and recorded their stories. What started as an exhibit quickly gained momentum, leading to the birth of Finding Our Voices.”
When asked to offer advice to others in similar situations, Lena emphasizes, “If he’s abusive, he can’t be a good father. Period. It’s not going to change, and it doesn’t get better. Don’t minimize or excuse their behavior. There is a better life waiting for you beyond the abuse, and there is help available.”
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 911. If it is safe to do so, reach out to a trusted friend, family member, or a domestic violence hotline. Organizations like Finding Our Voices are there to offer support.
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Summary:
Lena Brooks survived 29 years of abuse at the hands of her famous husband, Alex Turner. After his arrest for domestic violence, she found the strength to escape and founded a nonprofit, Finding Our Voices, to support others facing similar struggles. Lena encourages victims to recognize that there is help available and a better life beyond abuse.
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