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
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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.

He attacked her at least twice - that she has admitted to. Also, as I pointed out he also now has a conviction for criminal damage after smashing up someone's window when "lashing out" after missing a train.

It's a pattern of behaviour, not a one off.

but yes, thebest- perhaps statistics surrounding DV, painting the fuller picture to qualify what NC was saying might have redressed the balance somewhat. the last thing we need is a rose tinted spectacle "happy ending" type story. there will remain risks and possibility of it happening again.

i just hope for her and her family she has assessed the risk accurately and she will be proved in time to have made the right decision

I have complained to Ofcom, thus:

"This was irresponsible. She talked about forgiving and returning to her violent and abusive partner, wrongly taking a great deal of responsibility for his violence ('I wound him up'), and there was no-one there from Refuge (or agony aunt Denise) to provide the expert counter-balance needed, to stress IN PERSON that this is a very very risky thing for a woman to do. Cassidy is a celebrity and therefore fairly influential. The viewers of This Morning are mostly woman, and there are now likely to be some women who will be dissuaded from leaving their abusers today because of this interview. The interview was intended to raise Cassidy's celebrity profile, and was utterly unnecesary, lacking in integrity, lacking in appropriate balance and highly irresponsible."

Peppy yes people are allowed to talk about what they wish on TV but my point is it is such a sensetive subject and it was a very biased view from an abused woman.

There should have been a counter view.

When I was in this situation it did not take a lot of justification, I blamed myself and thought it was me 'winding him up'

If I had watched it then it could have normalised his behaviour even more.

good god.

women aren't sheep Line

your complaint whilst no doubt from a good motive makes women kind sound somewhat like intellectual vacuums.

you've described "monkey see monkey do?"

You complained to Ofcom because someone talked about their real life experience on a daytime chat show?

Wow. Who knew you could actually pinpoint the moment you lost the will to live on MN?

I will quote linerunner here

Cassidy is a celebrity and therefore fairly influential

She is not just 'anyone' if she convinces just one woman to stay in a violent relationship throught the interview then it was a bad interview!

and if she convinces one woman to leave, obtain an injunction and only consider returning IF he takes appropriate steps (therapy eg) to address his behavior?

lets not be so eager to find negatives and be critical of women who make their own minds up. why not look at the positives in how she has handled the situation.

or once again, is it just a case of you believing he shouldn't have any second chances, no questions asked?

I think her partner has quite a long history of aggressive behaviour.

I'm glad you complained LineRunner those are very fair comments. Good on you for taking the initiative.

Surely you'd agree that there should have been some type of counter opinion in the interview?

Yes she is entitled to give him a second chance and yes she can make up her own mind, but there should have been something in the interview to explain that yes in her case it may all work out well but this does not always happen.

can't argue with that Utterly

Thanks, fotheringhay. What I would like is for This Morning to invite someone on tomorrow from, say, Refuge, to talk in person about the risks and the realities, especially when there is a baby or young child to consider.

It's about balance and perspective.

As I said on the other thread, I feel so sorry for Cassidy, but I am angry at the thought that even one woman could have heard the wrong message today.

Glitterkitten.

I really do suggest you watch the interview. For me, it painted an unrealistic rosy and simplistic portrait of a very difficult and complex problem.

Grrr, I'm trying desperately hard to complain, but the form won't submit!

Can't believe what I'm watching, it's absolutely shocking that their is nothing counter balancing her interview. They should be forced to broadcast a segment with the REALITY of DV.

wannaBe, I really like your blog.

Glitterkitten.
Some women ARE sheep.
Some men are too.
That is why journalism (as this purports to be despite This Morning not knowing a real piece of journalism if it came an bit it on the arse) ALWAYS needs to be responsible.

It makes it even worse that she sits there and essentially tells Pip Schofield that the Refuge statistics don't apply to her situation!!!

God, this is SUCH a dangerous interview...

I don't think a violent relationship is redeemable if the victim is shouldering the blame. (NC: 'I wound him up'.)

To be honest I have no experience of a violent person ever changing and never being violent again. I have however seen violent people repeat patterns in a series of relationships.

I am sure, however, that if a person wants to change then they could, with intensive therapy and a lot of soul-searching and self-honesty. To me that wouldn't include the victim having to accept any of the blame. Far from it.

Every other interview IS the counter opinion. You think we're all thick enough that we need it on the same screen at the same time or we'll be all confused and forget the OBVIOUS and WELL-KNOWN opinion that its generally a good idea to leave a man who hits you? Cos we're all stupid little women who need a "celebrity" (that I've never heard of) to tell us anything at all?

Its fucking pathetic is what it is.

Just watched it and Natalie Cassidy was telling what she personally was doing. Up to her. Don't see why people are jumping up and down about This Morning though.

There WAS a very strongly worded counter statement from some organisation stating that whilst some men can change they were so few that it was considered unlikely at best. Nat looked very defensive at that moment.
I think it is good to see it actually. And what happens when he does it again... A more powerful message to women going through it because it shows it happens to anyone.

mojito time will tell whether her NC's fiance really HAS changed. And yes, it is her personal decision.

But other women in a violent relationship could have watched that this morning and thought, "If her DP can change, then so can mine". There was nobody on the couch offering a counter argument and explaining how abusers rarely, rarely change - just a few stats from Refuge thrown out by Schofield which were summarily dismissed by NC as "not relevant to me" (which is what ALL victims think).

If, after watching how it can "all work out fine if I stop winding him up", just ONE woman doesn't leave an abusive partner today as planned, and ends up hurt tonight because she stayed, then ITV will have massively failed in their responsibilities.