Billy Ray Cyrus is facing allegations of “narcissistic abuse” from his ex-wife, Firerose, following her recent social media posts.
On Tuesday (Jan. 20), Firerose uploaded a voice recording to TikTok and Instagram that allegedly captures her being verbally abused by a man she claims is Cyrus. Alongside the clip, she wrote, “I spent years being terrified,” adding that she had been conditioned to fear what might happen if she ever tried to reveal even a small part of what she endured behind closed doors.
In the audio, a man is heard repeatedly telling an emotional woman to be quiet, at one point saying she should “stand there and cry” because “you deserve every bit of this.” He also calls her “the most selfish fucking human being I’ve ever known.”
Firerose went on to explain that the experience slowly broke her down. “Over the years, my spirit was systematically worn down so that I became a shell of the person I was,” she wrote. “That is always what happens with narcissistic abuse. It’s not an accident. It’s very much calculated so that the fear of sharing what’s really happening overrides the agony of surviving it alone.”
Cyrus filed for divorce from Firerose in May 2024, pointing to irreconcilable differences and inappropriate marital behavior, according to court records obtained by People. The pair tied the knot in Oct. 2023.
Per E! News, Firerose appeared to hint at being a victim of “narcissistic abuse” during her marriage to Cyrus in an Instagram post shared last month.
She posted a message that read, “In your 20s you’ll meet a 49-year-old man who convinces you you’re his soulmate… It is very important you don’t believe him,” which was followed by a video clip of her and Cyrus together.
“If you’ve survived narcissistic abuse, you’re not alone,” she added. “It’s chilling how similar survivors experiences really are. Behind closed doors, it’s always the same playbook. Control, isolation, rage, manipulation, walking on eggshells, cognitive dissonance, feeling like the only person in the world that can be experiencing what you are.”
Meanwhile, People reports that Cyrus alleged in court filings last year that Firerose had physically, emotionally, and verbally abused him. His manager, Scott Adkins, also claimed in an affidavit that he personally witnessed her abusive behavior toward the singer.
