Singer was abused by ex-hubby

Macau singer and television host Maria Cordero was physically abused by her first husband, she said in a talk show to be broadcast in Hong Kong on Monday.

In promotional clips for TVB programme Litigation Home, the 63-year-old is seen crying as she recalls how she was abused by her ex-husband, a Filipino pianist she did not name, to the point where he would use knives on her.

According to an Apple Daily report, she married him when she was 18 and he was 40. When he lost his job a year later, she became the sole breadwinner, doing odd jobs to support him and six children - four of whom were from his previous marriage. He later had an affair with a domestic helper and got her pregnant, says Apple Daily.

Cordero divorced him in 1989. She is now married to a Portuguese engineer named Rick.

Nicknamed Fei Ma, or Fat Mama, the jovial host of Portuguese and Chinese descent is known for singing songs such as movie Prison On Fire's (1987) theme song The Light Of Friendship, as well as hosting popular TV cooking shows, such as Maria's Kitchen.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on June 03, 2017, with the headline Singer was abused by ex-hubby. Subscribe