to think that This Morning were utterly irresponsible to broadcast an interview with Natalie Cassidy on how and why she took back her abusive partner?

[wannaBe]

Natalie Cassidy on This Morning. abused to the extent she left and then took out a restraining order against him.

Then decided she loved him after all and took him back - he's admitted he's an alcoholic, has changed and they couldn't be happier.

The whole interview was all about justification, how it was because she was wound up about his drinking, how he drank and it made him do it, how he has now changed.

I vented my anger over it elsewhere and on twitter, but tbh I think that Natalie Cassidy, while very naive IMO, is free to make whatever decisions she sees fit.

However, I think This Morning were totally irresponsible to give it any kind of airtime.

There was no counter view. No-one to say that statistically it is highly unlikely that NC's partner has changed, that once an abuser, always an abuser...

Lots of vulnerable women will have been watching. Many may well believe that if NC's partner could change, perhaps theirs can too. And perhaps they will go back into dangerous situations because of it
.
This Morning does not only have a responsibility to the stars it broadcasts, it has a responsibility to its viewers, and that responsibility IMO extends to not glamorising domestic abuse and helping to perpetuate the myth that abusers can change.

[LieInsAreRarerThanTigers]

I didn't see it. I know statistically few abusers change, but some alcoholics can.
I would tend to agree it is a dodgy subject and may have done some harm.

[porcamiseria]

yanbu, its a very very dodgy grey area

[hazeyjane]

yanbu, utterly irresponsible.

[Tortington]

i think if this was solely about her abuse, then fairness should prevail and some other POV aired,

didn't see it

[TimothyClaypoleLover]

This Morning were utterly irresponsible to allow NC on full stop!

[CoolRunnings]

YANBU, I kept waiting for Denise to appear and talk about the dangers of returning to an abusive partner and was surprised when she didn't .

[pictish]

Yanbu! I commented earlier on this as well.

She excused and justified his disgusting behaviour, and even took responsibility for it herself, saying (basically) that she wound him up.

I thought it was a dreadful interview for This Morning to air, and wholly irresponsible.

[JaneMare]

i watched the interview open-mouthed and was waiting for a 'counter' interview with a representative of a victims support organisation or at least a campaign group

it didn't happen

they let her sit there, tell her horrible sad story and all about the work she'd put in to get them 'back on track'

as the exW of an alcoholic abuser, i was sickened by her seeming to trivialise the experience she'd been through

[pictish]

Here is the interview.

www.itv.com/thismorning/showbiz/nataliecassidy/

[LineRunner]

YANBU. I saw it and started the Telly Addicts thread right at the beginning of the interview; and I'm glad that wannaBe has brought this a wider audience over on here.

It was horrible, sad and very uncomfortable viewing. The thought that even one woman might have been persuaded by this ill-advised interview not to leave her abuser is bloody depressing.

I think it was doubly irresponsible to have Natalie Cassidy on, on her own, without anyone from Refuge (or even agony aunt Denise) there. Philip Schofield reading out a short prepared statement was welcome but nowhere near enough. I'm afraid I thought the other [stand-in] presenter Emma Willis was hopeless during this segment.

[LineRunner]

Would NC have been paid for the This Morning appearance?

[Eglu]

YANBU. I think we need to complain loudly.

[wannaBe]

have

\link{http://attheheartoftheopinion.blogspot.com/2012/02/tv-talk-shows-irresponsible-to.html\blogged about this as well}

[wannaBe]

and yes, agree re complaining. I am usually of the "if you don't like it, don't watch it," persuasion, but on this occasion I think that complaint is required.

[aldiwhore]

There always more than one side to all things, and I guess NC has as much right to talk about her experiences as anyone else.

I'm not a fan of being preached at by the media, and think their responsibility lies in showing age appropriate content without giving their own opinion. I may well have watched it and thought "what a load of shit", but that doesn't mean that they have a responsibility to churn out the same story again and again. Sometimes DV can be resolved, sometimes it can be forgiven, sometimes.

Sometimes it can't and I do think over the years This Morning etc cover most angles, usually with a bias towards it being a crime, that people shouldn't have to suffer and that no one deserves. Ocassionally someone's story may not run the part line, may not be normal, its still a story that maybe shouldn't be banned from airing.

I'm not a fan of Natalie Cassidy in any way shape or form and wish she'd STFU about most things, but its not This Morning's responsibility to deny her the opportunity to tell her story, much as it may stick in the throat of people who are actively trying to get DV taken more seriously.

[thebestisyettocome]

What is most worrying is they ended the interview with her saying 'it's all over.'
What sort of message does that send?
If Natalie Cassidy or a single viewer get harmed as a result of this 'interview' (which I pray doesn't happen) I hope the presenters and producers of this show realise their mistake.

It seems to me that nothing is off limits as far as this show is concerned in their pursuit of the cult of celebrity

[CaveMum]

It is very sad. I'm fortunate enough to have never encountered domestic violence, but as soon as I read about this online the MN red flags came out.

He must of undergone a rapid transformation in personality as only last week he was found guilty of causing criminal damage for breaking a window on a house after he "lashed out" because he had missed his train home in December

I can only hope that enough people bombard This Morning with messages that they get someone from Refuge, or the like, to come in and talk on the subject.

[LineRunner]

Ofcom complaint form thingy

[Glitterkitten]

Its all very well getting on your soapbox and Judging from on high, but if eg your dad hit your mum on one occasion would you be so anti the possibility of them working on their relationship? would you argue so vociferously against a reconciliation in that scenario?

if you smacked your child at the end of your tether after a day of pure hell and mayhem from them, should you have no further right to a relationship with the child? no second chances?

you don't know exactly what went on. we do know this guy has recognized his trigger in alcohol and is working on tackling that. Only NC and he can decide what is best for them and their family based on their own experiences.

does nobody deserve the benefit of the doubt and/or a second chance? ever?

if second chances are "permitted" under what circumstances should they be?

[UtterlyButterly]

I am utterly shocked by this. It completely contradicts everything that WA tell abused women.

All the work that they do to keep women safe and she comes on TV and says 'oh its my fault'

I don't blame her and it is up to her what she does but ITV have failed massivley to allow this interview to happen.

I am really angry purely because whilst in my abusive relationship this may have convinced me that it was my fault afterall.

I am really considering a complaint.

[thebestisyettocome]

Glitterkitten. By all means do that in the privacy of your own family but don't go on tv and give people an oversimplistic and idealistic impression of the issues surrounding dv.

[Glitterkitten]

i have to confess i didn't see the interview, but from what i have read about it i got the impression that NC recognised there had been DV, didn't justify or make excuses for it and in fact took appropriate action in leaving and getting an injunction.

It appears they have reconciled after he has proven he has taken steps to address her behavior.

i don't see how we can judge her so harshly on how she should live her life/organise her family..........

[UtterlyButterly]

Thank you Linerunner I have put in a complaint.

I am usually of the opinion 'if you don't like it, don't watch it' but this interview could have dire consequences to abused women.

Abused women are vunerable and don't need much persuasion that it is their fault as they are told this daily anyway.

[PeppyNephrine]

Oh please, people on TV are only allowed to talk about The Right Things all the time? What is the fucking point of that?

Its called Real Life dears, I do believe people talk about such on the telly if you insist on watching mind numbing moving wallpaper like This Morning