Who are Amy Winehouse’s parents, Mitch and Janis Winehouse? They divorced when the late singer was 9, and made a rare appearance at the premiere of their daughter’s controversial biopic Back to Black
Amy Winehouse’s parents, Mitch and Janis Winehouse, just made a rare public appearance together, attending the world premiere of Back to Black in London on Monday, as reported by British media.
The new film releases today, on April 12, and has already sparked backlash from fans of the late singing legend and her former friends for its depictions of her drug addiction and the filming of her funeral, according to British media.
Here’s what we know about Amy Winehouse’s parents, Mitch and Janis Winehouse.
Who are Amy Winehouse’s parents, Mitch and Janis Winehouse?
According to Smooth Radio, Mitch was working as a taxi driver and window panel installer when he and his then wife welcomed their second child, Amy, in 1983. They have an older son, Alex. Per the source, he released a classic jazz record as a singer in 2010.
Amy’s mother Janis Winehouse-Collins is a former pharmacist. After splitting from Mitch when Amy was nine years old, she tied the knot with another man, Richard Collins, in 2011. Per the same article, she lives with multiple sclerosis.
Why is Mitch Winehouse so controversial?
Mitch has seen his fair share of controversies while living in the limelight as Amy’s father. According to Yahoo! News, the 2015 documentary film Amy suggests that Mitch was exploitative during his daughter’s rise to stardom, as he joined the music industry at the same time.
But in an interview with Empire, Back to Black director Taylor-Johnson said Amy’s family had nothing to do with the film: “It was important to meet with them out of respect. But they have no involvement in terms of … like, they couldn’t change things. They couldn’t dictate how I was to shoot. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have done it.”
What was Amy Winehouse’s childhood like?
According to Biography, Amy was born in the London suburb of Southgate to a Jewish family, and was always immersed in music, with many of her uncles on her mum’s side being professional jazz musicians. Britannica notes that she was raised mainly by her mother after her parents’ divorce.
Who inherited Amy Winehouse’s wealth?
As reported by Rolling Stone, Amy’s parents inherited her entire fortune following her death, with her father controlling her US$4.7 million estate. Per the same source, Amy did not leave a will behind when she died.
- Amy Winehouse’s parents, Mitch and Janis Winehouse, just made a rare public appearance together, attending the world premiere of Back to Black in London on Monday
- The biopic is directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, the wife of rumoured future James Bond Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and tells the tale of the late, great musical legend – but why is it controversial?