Euphemisms for stalking, harassment and domestic abuse

[PinsAndThrums]

DV perpetrator and former DJ Andy Kershaw has died. The Beeb prefaces its brief mention of his lengthy history of harassing a former partner by saying:

The DJ and presenter was off air for several years, after a series of well-documented personal problems.

I'm not sure if Juliette Banner has ever told her side of the story, but Kershaw's own words are damning enough for me. The Mail and Independent both reported his self-justificatory, self-pitying version of events.

I was furious when he returned so swiftly to the airwaves and it annoys me to see his abuse airbrushed in this way, then and now. When will our patriarchal society stop excusing abusive men. The offence isn't diminished by the status or professional achievements of the perpetrator.

Urgh, grim. I vaguely remember him from decades back but had completely forgotten he existed and had no idea what an awful man he was. He comes across terribly in the Independent interview.

Awful to see the euphemisms used about him and his behaviour now he is dead.

News at 10 coverage was an extensive 'what a jolly nice chap' segment with the very brief hope-they-won't notice 'He made headlines at a time of family disintegration and nervous breakdown. His recovery saw him return to broadcasting tucked in the middle.

Him and his sister. Gosh.

I didn’t know who he was and it was only on MN that I found out this stuff. Reading the online obits and summaries totally glossed over it, as you say.