Nigella Lawson Choked by Husband: A "Community Problem with Community Solutions"; How People Could Have Helped Nigella [PHOTOS]
He is an advertising multi-millionaire. She is a popular British TV chef. All seems to be perfect for the prominent couple, Charles Saatchi and Nigella Lawson. But behind success and money, a tragedy lurks at the corner of their home as shocking images of the television host, visibly in fear and great deal of pain while protecting herself from the strong grip of the hands of her own husband.
These revealing images, of the 53-year-old television host being choked violently by the 70-year-old advertising mogul, had made the headlines over the weekend. What was more telling however was the apathy among the people around them, closely watching the incident that took place at the Mayfair restaurant the couple has frequently visited in London for ten years they have been together since they got married in 2003.
Using testimonies by onlookers, Britain’s tabloid Sunday People described the couple as having a heated argument when the incident took place. An eagle-eyed restaurant customer was even able to count the number of times Saatchi squeezed his hands around his wife, Nigella - - four.
“It was utterly shocking to watch,” one diner was quoted as telling Sunday People, according the Herald Sun. “I have no doubt she was scared. It was horrific, really. She was very tearful and was constantly dabbing her eyes.
The eyewitness added, “Nigella was very, very upset. She had a real look of fear on her face. No man should do that to a woman. She raised her voice and got angry but at the same time was trying to calm him down, almost like you would try to calm down a child.”
But eyewitness and onlookers seemed to be more willing to talk about Nigella’s fear and pain than actually walking the extra mile and provide help when the situation called for it.
As Nigella was clearly shocked and afraid for her life when her husband was mercilessly choking her, fellow diners could only watch in silence. Credits however, should be given to those who had the quick instinct to take pictures and share it to media - - one way to put a shame to Saatchi’s wrongdoing.
But could they be blamed for not doing anything and pretend that nothing was going on and no violence was taking place on the table next to them? The diners appeared to be more shocked as Nigella when her husband’s hands were choking her.
Read IBTimes-AU Related Reports on Nigella Lawson vs Charles Saatchi:
Nigella Lawson Choked by Husband in Public, Twitter Reacts to 'Shocking Pictures' [PHOTO] Full article here.
Nigella Lawson’s Husband, Charles Saatchi Pictured Hurting Her in Public.Full article here.
The Advocates for Human Rights noted in an article that “we must go beyond shock and surprise.”
“But [violence is ] here and everywhere, our reaction and response to grisly acts against women and girls must go beyond surprise and shock, beyond shaking our heads. There is much we can—and must— do,” Cheryl Thomas of The Advocates for Human Rights said in an article.
Citing Chuck Derry of the Gender Violence Institute in Clearwater, Minnesota, Thomas goes on to describe how to actually addressing issues on violence and focusing on men, too.
She said, quoting Derry, “This is not an individual problem . . . this is a community problem with community solutions.”
Australia’s White Ribbon, a group also helping address violence against women, has provide more concrete ways when anyone sees another Nigella Lawson. The Australian group has focused on “what you can do if you see inappropriate behaviour in front of you - even if they are strangers.”
'It just amazes me, the insidiousness of violence. No-one is immune,' White Ribbon Australia CEO Libby Davis, was quoted as saying by ABC Australia.
'Here's a celebrity in a public place, and no-one intervened. No-one said, 'Hey mate, that's not on.''
One can begin with making the perpetrator know that you are watching. Davis said that letting him know you are aware of any wrongdoing, it could be put to a stop. At least, momentarily.
“Just by letting someone know that you are actually watching, or that you are about to make a triple-0 phone call, or if you can safely intervene if you have assessed that situation very quickly and say 'hey mate', you can stop that person in their tracks,” Davis said.
A more complete list of ways to help strangers and victims of violence, especially women and children can be found here. Help stop violence against women and children.
START the SLIDESHOW for more photos of the incident and of Nigella Lawson. Scroll down for the VIDEO to see Nigella at work as host of British cooking show. Check out the other video of the incident.
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