Published Jan 5, 2021

It’s Been 5 Years Since Rocker David Bowie Died of Liver Cancer; Wife Iman Says She’ll Never Remarry: “This Was My True Love”

Legendary British rocker David Bowie died nearly five years ago, and in a candid new interview, his wife Iman reflects on how David is still present in her life and she also says she'll never marry again.

Anne McCarthy

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David Bowie's Wife Says She'll Never Remarry

British singer David Bowie died on January 10, 2016, from liver cancer, and in a recent interview, his wife Iman says she’ll never remarry.
Bowie was diagnosed with liver cancer in mid-2014; the main causes of this type of cancer may include excessive alcohol consumption and a family history of the disease.
Coping with the loss of a spouse to cancer can be helped with resources like therapy.

When iconic singer David Bowie died in January 2016 at age 69, the world lost an inimitable legend and his widow, Iman, now says she’ll never remarry. After losing her beloved husband to liver cancer, the former supermodel recently opened up about her love for Bowie.

In a new interview with Harpars Bazaar UK, the Somalia-born Iman, 65, said, “David is in our hearts and minds on a daily basis, for all of us. You know, this was my true love. My daughter once asked me if I would ever marry again and I said, ‘never‘.”

While Iman continues grieving the loss of her husband, we’re grateful that she’s sharing her story so candidly with the world. The glamourous pair were married in 1992 and have two children together.

Bowie’s Cancer Battle

Bowie was diagnosed with liver cancer in mid-2014 and fought the disease for 18 months before passing away at age 69. The legendary singer kept his cancer battle out of the public eye, and he continued to release music during his fight. Bowie released his 15th album, Blackstar, two days before he passed away.

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), approximately 42,810 new cases of liver cancer were diagnosed last year. Causes of liver cancer may include excessive alcohol consumption or a family history of the disease. There are several different types of liver cancer, and the most common is hepatocellular carcinoma. Symptoms of liver cancer may include abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, decrease or loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea, and jaundice.

Speaking of the anniversary of his death, on January 10, Iman told Harper’s “That's the saddest time….He's hiding in plain sight. His fans are still around, his music is still relevant.” Last year, Iman went to San Francisco and walked through some redwood trees near the area. She said, “And on the day of his passing, I went on a hike and a bluebird flew in front of me. A bluebird, above all things!”

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Coping with Loss of a Spouse

As Iman Bowie shows, coping with the loss of a spouse to cancer takes time. Many find that resources like therapy and support groups can be helpful tools for going through the grief process and handling the complex emotions surrounding grief.

When Camila Legaspi lost her mom to breast cancer in high school, she went to therapy and it turned out to be a lifesaver for her. In a previous interview, Legaspi said, “Therapy saved my life. I was dealing with some really intense anxiety and depression at that point. It just changed my life, because I was so drained by all the negativity that was going on.”

Leaspi credits therapy for helping to put her grief into perspective. “Going to a therapist helped me realize that there was still so much out there for me, that I still had my family, that I still had my siblings,” she said. “The reality is, is when you lose someone, it’s really, really, really hard. And it’s totally OK to talk to someone. And I’m so happy that I talked to my therapist. Keep your chin up, and it’s going to be OK. No matter what happens, it’s going to be OK.”

"Therapy Saved My Life": After Losing A Loved One, Don't Be Afraid To Ask For Help

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