Nigella. Would you have intervened?

[bkgirl]

So sorry for Nigella. Shocked no-one intervened. Was it because they were famous?

May be totally wrong but given his age could it be dementia? Could that explain her reaction?

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2342414/Nigella-Lawson-choked-husband-Charles-Saatchi-pictures-spark-outrage.html

[bkgirl]

Just saw update. I do like Nigella, poor thing.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2342414/Nigella-Lawson-choked-husband-Charles-Saatchi-pictures-spark-outrage.html

[OpheliasWeepingWillow]

I would have (I THINK) but I am very gobby indeed.

[lostproperty]

Yes I would have.

[delboysfileofax]

Fuck No. It normally results in them both turning on you.

[Wheresmycaffeinedrip]

Probably not. Because that would only serve to make me feel better and do jack to help her. If they turned on me then the story would have been about a member of the public disturbing the celebrity couple and not about the violence that took place towards her. No way would she have been able to side with me or thank me. She would probably be waiting for the punishment at home.

[Southeastdweller]

I'm ashamed to say no, for the reasons wheresmy says. Also, Saatchi is a powerful man, well-connected...I'd be fearful of any nasty repercussions.

[Wheresmycaffeinedrip]

(Of course that doesn't mean I wouldn't have cared, would have wanted to go give her a hug or squeeze her hand just to let her know someone cared. But ultimately safety wise.... )

[OpheliasWeepingWillow]

Nasty repercussions! He was just a guy in a restaurant THROTTLING his wife!

I think he is the one who should have thought of repercussions. My rather grand grandmother would have hit him with her umbrella and damn the repercussions.

Imagine just taking photos and doing nothing

[Wheresmycaffeinedrip]

But if the repercussions were him being angry pissed off and taking it out on her when they got home how would that have helped?

[OpheliasWeepingWillow]

Well a cooling off period in the hands of the police would have helped him? There is no way I would let some guy strangle and not intervene in case he got angry at home. Seriously. If he is going for her throat in public he's going to hurt her at home anyway unless someone (anyone?) calls him out.

[Morgause]

I'd have phoned the police and also spoken to her - maybe said, "Are you ok?" I have before in a similar situation.

[NoRainNoRainbow]

No I wouldn't.

I learnt the hard way though, I used to work in a restaurant, husband and wife are arguing, he leans across and slaps her, I go up all guns blazing (was about 18 and 5'2" and about 7st) tell him to get out, the wife turns on me, how dare you embarress my husband, who do you think you are, he sat there smirking.

They finished their meal and he started on her outside the restaurant....saying you just wait til we get home you made a scene etc etc.

Anecdotal yes, but makes me think of the repercussions for the woman.

[NoRainNoRainbow]

But YY to calling the police, giving them the CCTV and asking if she was ok.

[Wheresmycaffeinedrip]

All he had to do was say that we were disturbing him and have us thrown out diverting all the attention on to that rather than gathering evidence to genuinely help her.

He's a millionaire who can buy his way out if anything. It would have been her that got the blame of be was arrested and taken it out on her at home :(

[Dackyduddles]

I definitely would have. I have before on tube. Some young black guy and white guy aged about 18-20 were kicking an elderly couple in the corridor of a tube line. I yanked one back by the neck and shouted what the hell are you doing?! Tbf they were so surprised they just glared at me then scarpered. Tbh I was somewhat surprised myself. Lovely couple looked shell shocked.

Ill step in because I like to think someone would for me too. I think it's the honourable thing to do. (Damn you you decent upbringing!)

[CuttedUpPear]

I would.

[Wheresmycaffeinedrip]

A random event with strangers who won't meet again is different to a senario where the victim has to go home with the attacker.

[Casmama]

I think this thread is in pretty poor taste. It appears to have been a pretty horrendous experience for her and a thread of people speculating over whether or not they would have been a hero if they were there is vile.

[yamsareyammy]

www.nationaldomesticviolencehelpline.org.uk/support-a-friend-or-family-member-experiencing-domestic-violence.aspx

lots of details from refuge on here.

It basically seems to be saying, no dont intervene. That is dangerous both for yourself and for her.

[bkgirl]

LOL Dacky.I hope I would have stepped in myself, probably wouldn't have been able to stop myself. Though as other posters have said, it may only mean that the poor person getting hurt will get it worse at home.

In a way, the best thing WAS to take pics - irrefutable proof.

Just goes to show (again) domestic violence happens in all kinds of households. I wonder did he try this on his previous wives, if so they must have been pretty intimidated. Scary. Nigella wouldn't be a pushover but she really seemed frightened. :(

[SirChenjin]

Wouldn't have intervened (because DH would have stopped me, being infinitely more sensible and less feisty than I am) because I think it might have made it worse for Nigella, but I would have definitely called the police, and captured images on my phone if possible without making the situation worse.

I'm at a loss at to understand why none of the witnesses called the police at the time

[noddyholder]

no

[OpheliasWeepingWillow]

Who is speculating they would have been a hero?

But! Is hurting women in public ok now if you are rich? How far would it had to go before some of you intervened? Seriously. I want to know.

Am appalled to be honest. I can't think of anyone I know who would not have got in the way of a man strangling his wife and if that's poor taste so be it.

[Sparklysilversequins]

I have been wondering if she has helped to get this out there. He's a very powerful man and if will do that to her, what sort of threats would he be making as well? But if it's in the public eye she's safer isn't she? I would certainly be doing that if I were her. I bet she's got some powerful friends of her own.

As for the OP, yes, I think I probably would have. Because I am very nosy and I can't not say things if I see injustice or abuse. The only time I didn't was when a woman was screaming at her child in the street and when she caught my eye said she would "rip my fucking face off if I had anything to say to her". I was with my own dc and worried about what would happen to them. Luckily some men stepped in and started having a go at her and I just hustled dc away.