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| Joey Tay Details Nightmare Relationship That Damaged Her Self-Worth (Photo: Instagram/Joey) |
DJ Joey Tay Yu Rong has spoken candidly about a painful chapter from her 20s, revealing how a former partner emotionally manipulated her into believing she was flawed, unstable, and in need of medication, long before she realised she was being gaslit.
Freshly married last December, the 30-year-old radio DJ and The Star Voice first runner-up shared her story on the debut episode of new podcast Mood Drawer. Calm but firm, Joey made it clear she wasn’t out to attack anyone — she simply wanted to tell her truth.
She described the relationship as a “vicious cycle” that slowly chipped away at her confidence. One moment that still stings happened during what should have been an exciting milestone: house-hunting together.
While her ex reassured her they weren’t financially ready, DJ Joey later discovered he had privately told their property agent that they weren’t buying because she was the issue.
That quiet blame-shifting hit hard. When DJ Joey confronted him, his response was even colder — claiming their relationship was “perfect”, except that she wasn’t. He allegedly told her she had “potential to improve”, a line that kept her staying and second-guessing herself.
At the time, DJ Joey admitted she was too emotionally invested to see what was happening. She began internalising the criticism, believing she truly needed to change. Gaslighting wasn’t even a word in her vocabulary back then.
Things escalated further when her ex cheated. Joey chose to forgive him, asking only that he work to rebuild her trust. But when she later felt triggered by something she saw, he turned it back on her again, insisting that her reaction was the real problem.
The situation reached its most alarming point when he told her she should “eat lithium”, suggesting she needed mood stabilisers and psychiatric help to regulate herself.
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Shockingly, DJ Joey believed him and actually went to see a doctor. It was only when her psychiatrist asked if she’d heard of gaslighting that the fog finally lifted.
“That was how I learnt what it was,” DJ Joey shared, recalling the moment she realised she had been emotionally manipulated all along.
Even after their breakup, the control didn’t stop immediately. Joey revealed she had asked for one simple thing — that he not move on so quickly, just to give her space to recover.
His response? He reportedly demanded she list everything she had done wrong and explain how she would improve herself to “salvage” the relationship.
That was the final straw. DJ Joey Tay said that was the exact moment she woke up, realising how deeply unfair and demeaning the dynamic had become.
Fans and netizens have since reacted strongly to Joey’s story. Many praised her courage for speaking openly about emotional manipulation, calling her experience painfully relatable.
Others expressed anger at how subtle gaslighting can be, especially when it’s disguised as concern or “help”. Some listeners also pointed out how easy it is for self-doubt to spiral when blame is repeatedly shifted onto one person.
There were also messages of support applauding DJ Joey for breaking the silence, with netizens saying her story could help others recognise red flags earlier and seek clarity before losing themselves in unhealthy relationships.
DJ Joey’s honesty has sparked conversations about emotional manipulation, self-worth, and how harmful words can be when spoken by someone you trust. If her story struck a chord with you, share your thoughts — do you think gaslighting is still too often misunderstood, or are people finally learning to spot it before it’s too late?