Introduction
For more than forty years, the world has speculated, whispered, and wondered about the personal lives behind ABBA’s glittering stage presence. The Swedish supergroup, who redefined pop music in the 1970s and early 1980s, were never just about the catchy melodies and dazzling costumes. Their songs often mirrored the private heartbreaks and complicated relationships within the band. Now, at 78, Anni-Frid Lyngstad—known to millions simply as Frida—has finally spoken openly about the affair that once shook her marriage to fellow band member Benny Andersson.
ABBA’s rise to fame is one of pop music’s most enduring stories. With hits like Dancing Queen, Mamma Mia, and The Winner Takes It All, the quartet—Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Frida—topped charts across the globe. But behind the harmonies and smiles, their personal lives were unraveling. Both couples within the band—Agnetha with Björn, and Frida with Benny—faced immense strain from fame, relentless touring, and personal choices. By the early 1980s, both marriages had collapsed, leaving the group fractured emotionally even as their music soared.
For decades, Frida maintained her silence, offering polite but carefully measured answers whenever the subject arose. Rumors swirled about Benny’s infidelity, but neither party ever confirmed or denied the speculation. That silence has finally ended. In a recent interview, Frida admitted that Benny’s affair was indeed the breaking point of their marriage, a wound she carried privately while the world celebrated ABBA’s success.
“Back then, I felt I had to stay quiet,” she explained. “We were in the spotlight, and everything we did was magnified. I thought protecting ABBA’s image was more important than speaking my truth. But inside, I was hurting.”
Frida described the affair as “a betrayal that cut deep,” though she added that with the passage of time, she has found forgiveness. “We were young, living through an extraordinary situation. Benny made mistakes, I made mistakes, and life went on. At 78, I don’t want bitterness to be part of my story anymore.”
Her candid confession sheds new light on some of ABBA’s most emotional songs, particularly One of Us and The Winner Takes It All, which many fans long suspected reflected the group’s private heartbreaks. While the band often avoided directly addressing the autobiographical nature of their lyrics, Frida’s revelation confirms what listeners always felt—that their music carried the weight of very real pain.
What makes this moment especially powerful is Frida’s grace. She does not dwell on anger, nor does she point fingers. Instead, she speaks as someone who has lived a full life, who understands that even painful chapters can lead to wisdom. “I loved Benny very much,” she said. “And I know, in his way, he loved me too. But we were human. That’s what people sometimes forget when they see the costumes, the lights, the perfect image—we were just human.”
For ABBA fans, this long-awaited admission may not come as a complete shock, but it brings a sense of closure. After decades of speculation, Frida has given voice to her truth. And in doing so, she reminds us that behind every timeless song lies a story—sometimes joyful, sometimes heartbreaking, but always deeply human.