Saatchi trivialises restaurant incident as ‘playful tiff’

Newspaper publishes pictures of British celebrity Nigella Lawson's husband Charles Saatchi grabbing her by the...

British food writer, cook and broadcaster Nigella Lawson has made her way into our hearts, thanks to her gastronomy and charming smile. The beautiful TV personality has recently come under the media microscope after a newspaper published pictures in which her husband, art and advertising tycoon Charles Saatchi, is grabbing her by the throat.

The pictures were reportedly taken at the couple’s favourite restaurant in Central London, where they were celebrating Saatchi’s 70th birthday, and were published a few days later, this Sunday. Things reportedly got a little out of hand, and the former advertising guru was seen putting his hand around Lawson’s neck four times. On one occasion Saatchi was seen raising a second hand towards her throat and on another he seemed to be gripping or pinching her nose.

“It was utterly shocking to watch,” one onlooker said, according to ibtimes.co.uk “I have no doubt she was scared. It was horrific, really. She was tearful and constantly dabbing her eyes. Nigella was very, very upset. She had a really fearful look 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.”

Back in December, the couple was spotted at the same restaurant where Saatchi kept his hand over his wife’s mouth. In 2007, in an interview with the Daily Telegraph, Lawson was quoted calling her husband an “exploder”. She said “I go quiet when he explodes, and then I am a nest of horrible festeringness.”

To defend his act that clearly left Lawson horrified, Saatchi has made a statement: “About a week ago, we were sitting outside a restaurant having an intense debate about the children, and I held Nigella’s neck repeatedly while attempting to emphasise my point.

“There was no grip, it was a playful tiff. The pictures are horrific but give a far more drastic and violent impression of what took place. Nigella’s tears were because we both hate arguing, not because she had been hurt.”

While Lawson’s fear at the time and subsequent silence is worrying, Scotland Yard has clarified that a 70-year-old man “voluntarily attended a central London police station and accepted a caution for assault” on Monday afternoon.

Celebrities who have come under the radar for abuse:

Madonna and Sean Penn



The Material Girl and the Academy Award-winning actor were married for four years, between 1985 and 1989. During their courtship, Penn was charged with domestic assault, which he plea bargained down to a misdemeanor. The incident reportedly involved him beating Madonna for nine hours, gagging her and tying her to a chair. 

Chris Brown and Rihanna



R&B star Rihanna has spoken publicly about the abuse she suffered from her ex-boyfriend. The singer was allegedly assaulted by Chris Brown and had visible bruises on her face. Brown handed himself to the police and issued a statement saying he was “sorry and saddened” and was seeking counseling. It turns out that Brown may have been subjected to violence himself after it was revealed his mother had been physically abused by his stepfather.

Halle Berry



Oscar-winning actor Halle Berry in 2004 admitted to having been hit so hard by one of her ex-boyfriends that she lost the hearing in her right ear. Berry has never disclosed the identity of her attacker. She recently revealed that her mother was also the victim of domestic abuse so, when it happened to her, the actor knew it was time to get out of the relationship.

Tina and Ike Turner 



The husband-and-wife duo, best known for their hit, Proud Mary, may be equally well known for their turbulent relationship. Tina endured abuse from husband Ike for years, entangled in fights that were clearly exacerbated by his frequent cocaine use. After one particularly violent altercation, Tina spent weeks hiding in friends’ homes from Ike and his entourage. She later bought a gun to protect herself from her abusive husband. The couple divorced in 1978, after 16 years together. 

Twitter reactions

After the incident took place, fans reacted on twitter and showed their support for Nigella.

Pictures of Nigella Lawson seemingly being grabbed around the throat by her husband in a restaurant in the papers. Uncomfortable to look at.

— Steven Bell (@StevenLBell) June 16, 2013

https://twitter.com/CarolineHirons/status/346169476087173121

https://twitter.com/lovehopedaisies/status/346168461464072192

https://twitter.com/WelshWallace/status/346168334074654720

Don't know what's more shocking - what happened to Nigella Lawson or the fact nobody intervened. Come on people we're all in this together!

— Laura Shave (@shavey25) June 16, 2013

Published in The Express Tribune, June 19^th, 2013.

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