Charles Saatchi Speaks Out Over Nigella Lawson ‘Choking’ Pictures: ‘It Was A Playful Tiff’
While Nigella appeared to be grimacing in the pictures, and was later seen leaving Scott’s restaurant in Mayfair in tears, Charles has claimed they paint a “far more drastic and violent impression” of the incident.
He told the Evening Standard: “About a week ago, we were sitting outside a restaurant having an intense debate about the children, and I held Nigella’s neck repeatedly while attempting to emphasise my point.
“There was no grip, it was a playful tiff. The pictures are horrific but give a far more drastic and violent impression of what took place. Nigella’s tears were because we both hate arguing, not because she had been hurt.
Ah, yes. I often hold people by the throat when attempting to emphasize my point – thanks for clearing that up Charles Saatchi.
I’m not sure what shocks me most, that Saatchi somehow thinks this is acceptable or that no one stepped in to stop him from throttling his partner in public.
Is it a delusion of power? Domestic violence is never pretty and the self-justifications the abusive use to explain their violence away even less so.
What a terrible experience for Nigella Lawson and her whanau to have to endure.
This makes me sick. Has the backlash against women gone so far – that it is seen as reasonable to strangle a women in public? And its’ OK to be “reasonably” violent against women now?
Damn right, Adam.
Perhaps Mr Saatchi might feel differently if someone “playfully” put their hands around his neck. And squeezed. Hard.
But your point is spot on; what sort of society do we now have where domestic violence is openly displayed – and the Police are uncertain whether to prosecute or not?!
If this was done between to strangers with no links to each other, it would be common assault. (Not that there is anything “common” about assault.)
But if it’s done between spouses/partners, it is somehow deemed to be a “gray” area?
Does this imply that a female spouse/partner has lost certain rights because of their relationship?
Because that’s what I’m getting.
If Saatchi thinks that holding someone’s neck is a “playful tiff” then he needs help.
But it’s more likely he’s an arse that doesn’t have the integrity to immediately realise that his actions are wrong and require urgent redress (or better yet, not to do them in the first place).
I see he’s now accepted a police caution, hard to tell how much was genuine contrition and how much damage control. But it’s telling his first response was not to abase himself and grovel for forgiveness, but rather to say “it wasn’t that bad, really”.
Precisely, zanemvula.
And one has to wonder – whats been going on behind closed doors, away from the public eye?
The only “good” thing to come out of this (and I use that term, “good”, loosely) is that the problem of domestic violence/spousal abuse is a matter of public discussion.
And it shows quite clear that domestic violence/spousal abuse cuts across the classes.
…I held Nigella’s neck repeatedly while attempting to emphasise my point.
Nothing could better illustrate the true extent of the mental fucked-uppedness this guy embodies, than that he thinks the above is something fellow husbands will recognise and accept as the sort of thing a chap has to do now and then to get his point across to an obstinate wife.
I suspect an “ordinary” man would face harsher penalties than we can expect to find against a wealthy Saatchi. There’s always one law for the poor and another for the rich.
On another note, I suppose the purveyors of misery – those in power, ignorant to the plight of those they’re abusing. They could do well with being repeatedly and playfully held by the throat by the people to emphasise a point with a generous piece of their mind.
Intimate partner violence isn’t just a problem for capitalists. What’s your position on men on the left who are violent to their partners? How do we build a left that is supportive to women who have been abused by men, and that does not prioritise men over the women they have abused (which the Auckland left is particularly bad at – not that anywhere in New Zealand is good).
This headline from AlterNet says it all: Nigella Lawson Apparently Choked by Her Husband in the Middle of a Restaurant — and Nobody Stepped in to Stop It
So much about this story has left me feeling uneasy the last few days.
Still trying to untangle the unease, but in no particular order:
* The idea that the photos of a crime of intimate violence unfolding were published and went viral – instead of being taken to the police as evidence immediately. I didn’t want to see the photos. Not because I’m squeamish but because the thought of looking at them felt to me like a further violation of a woman who had already been victimised.
* I thought my head would explode when I saw that Aussie DJ Dee Dee Dunleavy wrote: “…Nigella, like it or not, you’re a beacon for women from all walks of life. If you want us to buy your books and watch your shows on how to run our kitchens, then we need you to make a stand on domestic violence…”
Yeah. Lets totally make the victims of DV responsible for making the world a safer place. Especially if you happen to be famous. You HAVE to be the new poster child for DV. With or without your consent.
http://www.3aw.com.au/blogs/3aw-generic-blog/nigella-we-dont-like-to-think-of-you-cowering-from-a-thug/20130617-2ocui.html
* The fact that people are touting a silver lining as “at least we’re now discussing DV in public.” Shit, NZ has horrific stats for DV. NZ women working in the frontline have been talking about this for fucking years. I dunno. It makes me quite sad that it takes a famous face being photographed and humiliated before we’re willing to engage on this topic.
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