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Tag: domestic violence

  • Janay Rice Blasts Media After Brutal Attack by Husband Ray Rice: ‘We’ll Show You What Real Love Is’

    Janay Rice blasted the media Tuesday, a day after a video of her being knocked out by her husband and former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice was released by TMZ Sports.

    Since the release of the video, the country has erupted over the issue of domestic violence and her husband’s career with the NFL has effectively ended.

    In an Instagram post published Tuesday morning, Janay shared her outrage that the media released a video that — from her point of view — shares a painful, private memory with the world.

    Although her Instagram account is private, Rice reportedly told the Baltimore Sun she intended to make a public statement through the post.

    “I woke up this morning feeling like I had a horrible nightmare, feeling like I’m mourning the death of my closest friend. But to have to accept the fact that it’s reality is a nightmare in itself,” she wrote. “No one knows the pain that the media & unwanted options from the public has caused my family.”

    She also expressed her hurt and embarrassment by the public airing of a private moment, and expressed outrage that her husband lost his career over the assault.

    “To take something away from the man I love that he was worked his ass off for all his life just to gain ratings is a horrific,” she wrote. “THIS IS OUR LIFE!”

    After TMZ released the video of the attack captured in an elevator in an Atlantic City casino, the Baltimore Ravens quickly terminated Rice’s contract and the NFL suspended the star indefinitely.

    Ray pleaded not guilty to assault charges back in May when the attack occurred and was allowed to enter a pre-trial intervention program to avoid prosecution. At the time, he was handed-down a two-game suspension from the Ravens.

    “If your intentions were to hurt us, embarrass us, make us feel alone, take all happiness away, you’ve succeeded on so many levels,” Janey wrote in her Instagram post. “Just know that we will continue to grow & show the world what real love is!”

    Here’s hoping that Janay realizes one day that — despite her embarrassment and pain now — the public display of her assault may help others in the future who face the same unimaginable pain and embarrassment associated with domestic violence.

    President Barack Obama said it well in a statement following the incident.

    “The President is the father of two daughters. And like any American, he believes that domestic violence is contemptible and unacceptable in a civilized society. Hitting a woman is not something a real man does, and that’s true whether or not an act of violence happens in the public eye, or, far too often, behind closed doors. Stopping domestic violence is something that’s bigger than football – and all of us have a responsibility to put a stop to it.”

    Here, here!

  • Ray McDonald To Face Domestic Violence Charges

    San Jose, California, police arrested the San Francisco 49ers’ starting defensive end Ray McDonald on Sunday on felony domestic violence charges.

    The arrest comes just three days after the National Football League’s new domestic violence policy was implemented by Commissioner Roger Goodell.

    Police were called at around 2:48 a.m. on Sunday morning to a reported domestic violence incident. McDonald was taken into custody after the domestic violence allegation was substantiated. According to CNN, there were several of McDonald’s teammates at his house when he was arrested.

    The league is aware of the arrest and said that they are still trying to figure out exactly what happened before they take any action.

    “The 49ers organization is aware of the recent reports regarding Ray McDonald and we take such matters seriously. As we continue to gather the facts, we will reserve further comment,” team General Manager Trent Baalke said in a statement.

    McDonald was able to post bail quickly and was released from jail a short time after his arrest. Although he couldn’t discuss the charges, he did make a statement about them saying,

    “The truth will come out. Everybody knows what kind of person I am….a good-hearted person.”

    McDonald has been arrested before, once for a DUI and a second time for an outstanding warrant that stemmed from his DUI charges.

    The league’s new domestic violence policy enforces a six-game unpaid ban for personnel who violate the league’s policy.

    Anyone who is found guilty of domestic violence charges for a second time will be banned from the league permanently.

    The NFL Players Association has responded to the new penalties

    “We were informed [Thursday] of the NFL’s decision to increase penalties on domestic violence offenders under the Personal Conduct Policy for all NFL employees. As we do in all disciplinary matters, if we believe that players’ due process rights are infringed upon during the course of discipline, we will assert and defend our members’ rights,” said the association’s statement.

  • Hope Solo Faces Six-Month Jail Sentence For Domestic Violence

    Seattle Reign FC goal-keeper Hope Solo appeared in court in Kirkland, WA, on Monday, asking for the dismissal of the fourth-degree domestic violence case against her through a motion filed by her lawyer. Her lawyer also asked that the court exclude evidence, including hearsay, in the same motion, saying Solo was a victim in the dispute.

    Solo is accused of repeatedly hitting her half-sister and 17-year-old nephew during a family fight when she was visiting them at their Kirkland home in June.

    According to police reports, police responded to a 911 call from a family member who told 911 that Solo was “going crazy and hitting people.” Court documents further read that when they arrived at Solo’s sister’s Kirkland house, the police heard shouting and found Solo’s sister and nephew crying and with visible injuries.

    The sister said that they had just welcomed Solo back into their lives when she fought them that June morning.

    Police arrested Solo –who was also reportedly drunk at the time of the incident– and she spent the next two nights in jail. The athlete pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor assault charges and was later released upon condition that she will appear before the court if summoned.

    A few days after the incident hit the news, Solo apologized to her fans via Facebook:

    “I understand that, as a public figure, I am held to a higher standard of conduct,” she wrote. “I take seriously my responsibilities as a role model and sincerely apologize to everyone I have disappointed.”

    The court has set the trial for November. Should Solo be found guilty of the charges against her, she faces the possibility of spending six months in jail.

    At present, she continues to play with the Seattle Reign and her managers have said that they will wait for the court’s ruling before making any decisions about her future with the team.

    Solo, 32, has helped the U.S. women’s national soccer team win Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012. She has also appeared on Dancing with the Stars and in The Body Issue on ESPN.

    Image via YouTube

  • Married Police Officers Murder Daughter’s Boyfriend

    Two Tulsa, Oklahoma police officers who are married to one another have been charged in the shooting death of the 19-year-old boyfriend of their daughter.

    Jeremy Lake was found shot to death in the street near downtown Tulsa Tuesday evening, according to Tulsa Police Department spokeswoman Jillian Roberson. Lake had been walking with the officers’ daughter Lisa, 18, when Shannon Kepler confronted him. After an argument, Kepler shot Lake, and began shooting at his daughter as she fled.

    Lisa Kepler said at a news conference Wednesday that she had been living with Lake, after her parents kicked her out of their house a week before. “I don’t know what could have led them to do this,” she said, adding, “They didn’t even know Jeremy.”

    Officer Shannon Kepler, 54, was arrested on a first-degree murder charge, and Gina Kepler, 48, was arrested on a complaint of accessory to murder after the fact. Both are presently in the Tulsa County jail, and there is no word if they secured attorneys. Both are on paid administrative leave.

    Tulsa Police Chief Chuck Jordan said in a statement that “the circumstances around this incident drives home the fact that domestic violence is a societal problem and transcends all economic groups.”

    “I as well as the whole department am saddened for both families involved in this tragic event,” Jordan added.

    Lisa Kepler said during an interview after the shooting, “I turned my dad in. I’m not going to deny it. … I don’t care. He’s going to rot, and I hope it happens.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Texas Home Shooting Leaves 6 Dead

    Seven people were shot at a home in Spring, Texas, Wednesday evening, and six of the victims died from their wounds.

    A brief standoff between the suspect and authorities ensued after a car chase. Harris County police used two trucks to stop the suspect’s vehicle on a cul-de-sac near the site of the shooting at 711 Leaflet Lane in the Enchanted Oaks subdivision.

    The surviving victim, who had a gunshot wound to the head, told police that the suspect was a family member, and had left to go assault another family member who was at work at a nearby restaurant.

    Harris County Precinct 4 Assistant Chief Deputy Mark Herman revealed that three children were killed at the scene. Three adults and another child were medivaced via Life Flight to Memorial Hermann Hospital. One child passed away at the hospital, bringing the total fatalities to six. The ages of the deceased ranged from 5 to 40.

    So far, deputies called the shooting a “domestic dispute.” After a roughly 30 minute chase with the suspect, he remained sitting idle in his vehicle while surrounded by deputies with guns drawn and at least a dozen patrol cars. A large SWAT vehicle then rammed into the suspect’s car, crushing its front end. A second SWAT vehicle pulled directly behind the suspect’s vehicle and rammed into the back of it, wedging the suspect in.

    Here is an aerial view of the chase:

    Police said the suspect, who is in his mid-40s, had a handgun and was holding it to his head. They were speaking with the man via cell phone.

    Image via Youtube

  • Hope Solo: “Not Guilty” To Domestic Violence Charges

    Hope Solo, U.S. women’s soccer team goalkeeper, has pleaded not guilty after her domestic violence arrest on Saturday at her sister’s home near Seattle. She is accused of assaulting her sister and 17-year-old nephew.

    The family says that Hope Solo arrived at the family gathering already drunk. She then argued with her nephew about his acting dreams. She allegedly called him fat and crazy, then got into a fist fight with him. When his mother, Hope Solo’s sister, tried to break it up, Solo began punching her.

    Solo’s nephew broke a broom over her head, pointed a broken BB gun at her and told her to leave. Her nephew said later of the conflict, “We just let her back into our lives,” and said Solo ”always does this.”

    However, as there are two sides to every story, so goes the alleged violence of Hope Solo.

    Solo’s lawyer, Todd Maybrown, said in an email on Saturday that, ”Hope is not guilty of any crime. In fact, our investigation reveals that Hope was assaulted and injured during this unfortunate incident. We look forward to the opportunity to present the true facts in court and to having this matter behind Hope very soon.”

    ”There’s going to be a very strong defense in this case,” Maybrown added.

    Hope Solo didn’t speak at her hearing on Monday except to answer the judge’s questions. Maybrown did not object to the judges no contact order, but did argue against the prosecutor’s request for bail, since Hope Solo is a public figure and most likely wouldn’t jump town at a risk to her career.

    This isn’t Hope Solo’s first dance with the law involving domestic violence. Just before Solo’s wedding to former Seattle Seahawks tight end Jerramy Stevens he was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence for an incident involving his future wife, but was never charged.

    Hope Solo’s next court date is August 11th.

    Image via YouTube

  • Michael Jace: ‘The Shield’ Star Pleads Not Guilty to Murdering Wife

    Michael Jace, known for his role on the FX police drama The Shield, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to killing his wife April Jace. The actor is charged with her shooting death. Bond was set at $2 million following the hearing and Jace was told he couldn’t have contact with his two children. A preliminary hearing was set for August 1st.

    April Jace died from “multiple gunshot wounds” according to the results of her autopsy. The Los Angeles County coroner ruled her death a homicide.

    Michael Jace reportedly called 911 following his wife’s death and told an operator that he had shot her. His father-in-law also called 911 as he raced to his daughter’s home following a message from Michael Jace.

    “My son-in-law called me and texted me and said come get the kids because he shot April, our daughter,” he said in a recording that was recently released by the Los Angeles Fire Department.

    A police statement issued the day following April Jace’s death said the expected motive behind her murder was domestic violence. A woman who is a close friend of Michael Jace’s first wife Jennifer Bitterman said he abused his wife back in 1997.

    Jace “choked and hit” Bitterman and “slammed her against the wall while (their infant son) screamed in his crib next to her,” Maria De Le Vegas said in a sworn statement.

    Michael Jace apparently suffered from serious financial issues and had recently even defaulted on the couple’s mortgage. The Shield provided the biggest role in Jace’s 22-year career as an actor. He appeared in 89 episodes as Julien Lowe, who started as a rookie officer in an inner-city Los Angeles police precinct in 2002 and worked his way up to detective before the series ended in 2008.

    In addition to The Shield Jace appeared in several episodes of the TV series Southland and had small roles on episodes of The Mentalist, NYPD Blue, Burn Notice, and Private Practice.

    April Jace worked at Biola University as a financial aid counselor.

    “We are obviously shocked and saddened by this terrible news, to lose a wonderful colleague, mother and friend,” Biola President Barry Corey said in a written statement.

    “April’s radiant personality brought great energy to the financial aid office,” financial aid director Geoff Marsh said. “Her love for helping students and families and her great work ethic earned the respect and love of her coworkers. Her smiling face and helpful spirit will be missed by all.”

    Almost as sad as the loss of April Jace is the fact that the couple had children together. They will not only suffer the loss of their mother, but will one day likely learn that their father was responsible for her death, and that’s something not easily handled–no matter how old one is.

    Image via YouTube

  • Porsha Williams Opens Up About Domestic Abuse During Her Marriage to Kordell Stewart

    Porsha Williams has definitely been through a lot.

    From her grueling divorce battle with ex-NFL star Kordell Stewart, to the highly publicized brawl on the Real Housewives of Atlanta reunion, the 32-year-old reality TV starlet has been making headlines quite regularly.

    However, now that the dust is finally starting to settle, she’s speaking out about her personal life without any reservations.

    On Monday, April 28, Williams stopped by Access Hollywood. Although she initially came to the show to promote her new single “Flatline,” the interview took an interesting turn when she shared details about the meaning of the song.

    She revealed that some aspects of the record touched on the domestic violence she experienced during her two-year marriage to the former Pittsburgh Steelers’ star quarterback.

    “The video [“Flatline”] does touch on domestic violence and some abuse I  encountered in my marriage. It’s not exact to what I went through, because,  honestly, what I went through was a little bit worse in some instances.”

    The shocking admission opened the door for more questions. “What happened in the marriage? Did he hit you?,” the host asked, hoping Williams would elaborate, and she did.

    “Abuse. Physical abuse,” Williams specified. “Yeah. There were several different occasions that this happened,” she answered.

    “When you’re in an abusive situation, it kind of just builds, and it starts to get worse and worse. And people ask me, ‘why didn’t you tell anybody or call the police?’ or what have you. I just thought that I could make it better. I honestly thought after each  situation that I would change this or I would change that, and, therefore, the outcome wouldn’t be the same. It doesn’t work like that. I’m still realizing now that a lot of what happened, it wasn’t my fault.”

    http://youtu.be/8wBTOvJJsgA

    She also revealed that her claims are actually backed by court documentation, as Stewart reportedly admitted to the abuse during their divorce deposition. However, Stewart has since contacted Access Hollywood to refute the abuse claims and gay rumors.

    Image via Porsha Williams, Facebook

  • Paul Simon Arrested; Down By Schoolyard?

    Paul Simon Arrested; Down By Schoolyard?

    The Papa said, “Oy, if I get that boy,
    I’m gonna stick him in the house of detention.”

    – Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard

    Singer-songwriter Paul Simon was arrested Saturday night, along with wife Edie Brickell, on disorderly conduct charges. According to ABC News, police were called to the couple’s home in New Canaan, Connecticut about a disturbance. When they arrived, they discovered there had been a “family dispute”.

    “Investigating officers gathered information and found probable cause to arrest” both Simon and Brickell.

    The couple has been married since 1992, but have been together since 1988 when they met on the set of Saturday Night Live. Brickell was there to perform with her band, New Bohemians, when she spotted Simon by the camera.

    “Even though I’d performed the song hundreds of times in clubs, he made me forget how the song went when I looked at him,” she said. “We can show the kids the tape and say, ‘Look, that’s when we first laid eyes on each other.” The couple do have three children together.

    Brickell recently did an album with funny man and banjo player Steve Martin, credited as Steve Martin and Steep Canyon Rangers featuring Edie Brickell.

    Simon is a prolific songwriter with 12 studio albums to his credit, as well as live albums. His for mer partnership with singer Art Garfunkel is still the stuff of legend in folk circles.

    Simon was a huge proponent of what came to be called “world music”, spearheading that movement in the United States with his album Graceland, featuring the vocal group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The album went 5x Platinum, and became Simon’s biggest-seller to date.

    The couple were scheduled to appear in Norwalk Superior Court this morning on the disorderly conduct charges. Disorderly conduct is a Class C Misdemeanor under Connecticut law, and is defined, in part, as:

    (a) A person is guilty of disorderly conduct when, with intent to cause inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof, such person: (1) Engages in fighting or in violent, tumultuous or threatening behavior; or (2) by offensive or disorderly conduct, annoys or interferes with another person; or (3) makes unreasonable noise;

    Image via YouTube

  • Eva Marcille Files Restraining Order Against Boyfriend, Shares a Picture With Him Days Later

    Eva Marcille has lots of people wondering about her topsy-turvy relationship with Kevin McCall. Back in January, most would have assumed they were floating on cloud nine.

    With the birth of their daughter, Marley Rae, they both took to social media with loving messages, doting on one another. They appeared to be the epitome of the ideal couple. However, things definitely aren’t as they seemed, and the truth is beginning to surface.

    On March 28, the America’s Next Top Model star was granted a restraining order against McCall. According to TMZ, things got out of control at the Marcille-McCall household. The publication reports that Marcille claims McCall went “ballistic.”

    The two had a verbal sparring match that quickly escalated, with McCall ultimately kicking down four doors in the house. McCall reportedly chased Marcille around the house, trying to take their daughter from her. The Grammy award-nominated singer-songwriter also threatened to hit Marcille.

    In most cases, filing a restraining order as a result of domestic violence means you want to distance yourself from the person in question, right? Well, not in this case. While the news of Marcille’s restraining order caught the attention of the media, what happened just days later raised even more questions.

    On April 4, Marcille shared a picture via Instagram of her and McCall with their 2-month-old daughter. Ironically, the caption for the picture read, ““#familyfirst.”

    They appeared to be a happy family, despite the physical altercation that took place just a week prior. The picture is quite contradictory since McCall is required to stay a minimum of 100 yards away from Marcille, according to the restraining order documents.

    Maybe the old cliché is true where Marcille is concerned. “Love hides all faults.”

    Hopefully, Marcille and McCall can reconcile and repair whatever damage has caused a rift in their relationship. Otherwise, they’ll will be living out McCall’s lyrics and “chunking up them deuces.”

    Image via Eva Marcille, Twitter

  • Rep. Alan Grayson Accused Of Domestic Violence

    In yet another case of the personal life of a congressman making headlines for the wrong reasons, Representative Alan Grayson has been accused of injuring his wife in a domestic dispute. Grayson is a democratic congressman from Florida.

    Alan Grayson’s wife has accused him of shoving her and injuring her over the weekend, although the congressman has denied the allegations. Through his spokesperson, he has said that her accusation is an “outright lie,” and it seems as though she may just be trying to draw negative attention to her estranged husband.

    The alleged incident occurred less than 2 months after his wife, Lolita, filed for divorce. They had been married for 24 years, but his wife said that their marriage was “irretrievably broken.”

    The two of them are no longer living together, and she says that he came over unannounced wanting to talk to her, and resulted to using physical force shortly after.

    Lauren Doney, the spokesperson for Alan Grayson, said that “Witnesses reject Lolita Grayson’s story and that it was Ms. Grayson who physically attacked the Congressman as he attempted to visit with his children. He did not respond to Ms. Grayson’s violent assault.”

    However, according to his wife’s side of the story, she says that after she refused to speak to him, and gave him his mail, the Congressman “then deliberately and with force pushed [Lolita Grayson] very hard against the front door, causing [her] to fall to the ground as a result.” Along with her statement, she delivered photos that showed large bruises to her left leg and left shoulder.

    Lolita Grayson did admit that she had pushed her husband’s face in addition to kneeing him in the stomach, which she says was “in order to protect and defend herself.” Doney further mentioned that since filing for divorce, Grayson’s wife has become increasingly erratic, and has shown a disconnect from reality.

    Despite the accusations by his wife being denied, a judge has granted a temporary protective injunction against U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson. The Sheriff’s office document that was released revealed that Lolita Grayson was the victim in the incident, and the offense is listed as domestic-violence battery.

    Alan Grayson represents Florida’s 9th Congressional District, an area that covers much of eastern Orange County, Osceola County, and a sliver of Polk County. He was not arrested after the incident, and is not currently facing any criminal charges.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Ray Rice Knocked Fiancé Unconscious According to Report; Fans Express Outrage Over Footage Via Twitter

    Ray Rice has definitely landed himself in hot water. The Baltimore Ravens’ star running back made headlines over the weekend following a physical altercation he had with his fiancé, Janay Palmer.

    According to the Atlantic City Municipal Court summons that was issued on Wednesday, Feb. 18, Rice struck Palmer with such force that the hit rendered her unconscious.

    The Atlantic City, N.J., police reports that the couple was apprehended early Saturday morning on Feb. 15 following a prior altercation at a casino. Rice, 27, and Palmer, 26, were actually caught on security cameras while they were involved in the altercation.

    The couple was charged with simple assault-domestic violence. They both were later released, and received summons to appear in court. But, things began to look a whole lot worse for Rice with the latest development brought to light.

    Exclusive footage from the altercation was obtained by TMZ. Once the footage hit the internet, fans saw the NFL star in a whole different light, and most were quite disappointed at what they witnessed. Rice is actually seen dragging his unconscious fiancé out of an elevator, and he didn’t do so with much care.

    He was actually seen on camera man-handling Palmer, as he threw her on the floor face-down once he drug her all the way out of the elevator. Although police claim the two attacked each other, the footage definitely says otherwise.

    http://youtu.be/NGbjV2moEOM

    Rice’s attorney, Michael Diamondstein, released a statement on his behalf in regards to the domestic altercation.” There was an argument that included Ray. I can’t give any specifics because we haven’t seen the document yet. Once we’re able to go through the evidence, it should wind up to be little more than a misunderstanding.”

    Baltimore Ravens’ officials also released a brief statement as well. “We are aware of the Friday night situation with Ray Rice and his fiancé. We have spoken with Ray, and know that they returned home together after being detained.”

    Unfortunately, the statements didn’t make Rice‘s fans feel any better about his apparent abusive behavior. As a matter of fact, Rice’s altercation was a top trending topic on Twitter just hours after TMZ released the jaw-dropping footage. A number of fans weighed in tweeting their disdain of Rice’s behavior.

    At this point, its unclear how things will pan out for the engaged couple, but if the tweets are any indication of Rice’s status with the fans, it looks as if he’ll definitely have to redeem himself. Hopefully, his reputation isn’t permanently tarnished, and the couple can repair their relationship.

    Image via Ray Rice, Facebook

  • Mary J. Blige: Father Critical Following Stabbing

    Singer Mary J. Blige’s father Thomas Blige is in critical condition following a stabbing on Thursday. The 63-year-old was stabbed in the neck during an episode of domestic violence by a former girlfriend in Michigan. Cheryl Ann White was arrested at the scene. She is charged with assault and intent to murder.

    Friends and neighbors told officers at the scene of the stabbing that the two were known for quarreling frequently. White was in the middle of slashing the tires on Thomas Blige’s SUV when he discovered her doing so. He was confronting her when she lashed out, stabbing him in the neck.

    “During the course of the confrontation, the female stabbed the victim in the neck,” a Battle Creek Police Department report reads.

    It seems Thomas Blige heard some “hissing” noises coming from just outside his apartment before going outside to confront Cheryl Ann White, according to Blige’s roommate Michael Thomas.

    “He came back in and yelled for me,” Thomas said. He soon found Thomas Blige lying in the middle of their kitchen floor, “bleeding profusely,” not just from his neck, but from stab wounds to his side and arm as well.

    “I had to grab towels and cover the wounds the best I could until the rescue came,” Thomas said.

    Thomas Blige is now in a Kalamazoo, Michigan hospital following surgery for those stab wounds.

    Mary J. Blige and her father have reportedly long been estranged from one another, although no one really seems to know the reason for their estrangement. The singer, known for albums including Stronger With Each Tear and this past Christmas’s A Mary Christmas hasn’t released a statement about her father’s stabbing, nor is there any mention of it on her Facebook or Twitter account pages. Hopefully her father fully recovers from this frightening stabbing incident. It is unknown thus far as to when Cheryl Ann White will be arraigned.

    Image via Facebook

  • Chrissy Teigen and John Legend Choke Back Video

    Hooray for social media– through the magic of humanly errors in judgement, we learn way too much about people by just sitting there on the computer. A return from their lapse of clarity (or a frantic call from their publicist) may result in a deleted tweet or picture, but that’s the thing about the internet– it is always awake and ready.

    Chrissy Teigen, the Sports Illustrated swimsuit model and now wife of soul crooner John Legend, is a bit of an outspoken social media socialite. To our delight (or not), she’s engaged in not-so-pleasant exchanges with fellow Twitterlings and has given us a clear show of her sense of humor with the infamous “vagina raspberry” Instagram video.

    Let us share that with you if you’ve been so unfortunate as to have missed that:

    This time, hubby John Legend joins in the fun for a bit of good ol’ Christmas cheer by way of pseudo-domestic violence. Not exactly sure of how that fits in with Christmas, but it happened. Chrissy deleted it quickly– but not before her followers caught wind of it and got pretty concerned.

    While no apologies were given, the self-described “demotivational speaker” who says she’s “no Cindy Crawford” hasn’t said a word more about it, which probably means, “Let’s just forget that happened.” Either way, how do you feel about it? Do you think that she should’ve deleted the video to avoid offense, or should she be able to do as she pleases? Let us know.

    Image via Twitter

  • Chris Brown Must Return to Rehab After Breaking Mom’s Car Window

    A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge has ordered Chris Brown to return to rehab. The ruling came Wednesday, after Judge James R. Brandlin read reports of Brown’s latest transgressions.

    The Grammy-winning recording artist was kicked out of a residential treatment facility when he threw a rock at his mom’s car window on November 10. This followed a family therapy session in which his mother disagreed with Brown’s wish to leave the facility earlier than originally planned.

    The treatment facility dismissed Brown following the incident, citing the non-violence contract he’d agreed to upon admission. In a letter that was submitted to the court, the facility stated that “Mr. Brown proceeded to walk outside and pick up a rock and threw it through his mother’s car window and it shattered.”

    Judge Brandlin’s ruling appeared to follow the recommendations of Brown’s probation officer: besides the three additional months in rehab, the ruling specified that Brown be allowed to leave the facility for 24 hours a week to perform community service and that he submit to random drug testing. He was also ordered to continue taking any doctor-prescribed medications.

    Brown has been in and out of court since pleading guilty to the 2009 assault of his then-girlfriend, singer Rihanna.

    In court in mid-August, Brown avoided what could have been serious charges related to a May hit-and-run incident. The judge expressed concerns about discrepancies in Brown’s claims to have already fulfilled the 1,400 hours of court-ordered community service in connection with his beating of Rihanna. His previously-revoked probation was reinstated and he was ordered to perform another 1,000 hours of community service.

    Brown was given a year to perform the service, and parole officers expressed concern about the performer’s ability to complete it unless he was allowed to do so while in residential treatment.

    Wednesday’s court date was set back in August and was essentially meant to be a progress report.

    Brown will be back in court on Monday, however, and this time it will be in Washington, D.C. Judge Brandlin gave Brown permission to leave Los Angeles in order to face charges related to an October 27 incident outside the White House in which Brown and his bodyguard got into a physical altercation with a 20 year-old Maryland man.

    Brown is walking on thin ice right now. At this point, the Los Angeles judge can sentence him to up to four years in prison for the beating of Rihanna if he is found in violation of that felony probation.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Texas Bar Sign Jokes About Domestic Violence

    October is Domestic Violence Month, a topic one person in Austin, Texas thought would be appropriate to joke about, as evidenced by a sign he put outside at his place of employment, Minibar. The issue came to light after a woman shared a picture of the offending sign, which said “I like my beer like I like my violence: Domestic.”

    The woman who took the picture, Seetha Kulandaisamy, uploaded it to Facebook and Instagram on Friday, which hit reddit and took off. After receiving numerous calls and complaints on Facebook, the bar owner changed the sign and fired the employee responsible.

    “I walked by the sign on Friday night, and my first response was just anger,” Kulandaisamy said. “I currently am a volunteer at the women’s shelter in Austin, so my sensitivity is extra high, but I think my reaction would have been the same regardless. Not only was it offensive, but it was also just bad humor.”

    Quite a few people agree with Kulandaisamy and some threatened to never again visit Minibar because of the sign.

    The owner of the Texas bar, Alex Elmiger, seems very embarrassed by the situation and had the sign changed as soon as it was brought to his attention. Elmiger said that the employee who made the offending sign didn’t have his permission to do so and that the man was fired immediately.

    Elmiger posted a picture of a new sign (above right) to the Texas bar’s Facebook page with the promise that the bar would donate $1 from every domestic beer sold in October to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

    “Minibar doesn’t condone that sign,” owner Alex Elmiger said. “I give my utmost apology and assure it won’t happen again. As soon as it was brought to my attention, I wanted to do something to rectify the situation.” Elmiger also said that the situation was an “isolated incident and was definitely not a reflection of Minibar what so ever.”

    Do you find the Texas bar sign inappropriate or think people overreacted? Respond below.

    Some Facebook users think that there is nothing wrong with the sign and blame people who take political correctness too far for costing a man his job.

    [Images via WHAS11 and Facebook]

  • In Some Cities, 911 Gets Abuse Victims Evicted

    The New York Times reported a startling story out of Norristown, PA: a woman named Lakisha Briggs, who suffered repeated instances of domestic abuse in her Pennsylvania row house, would be evicted if she called the police even to protect herself from her abuser.

    Norristown has a “nuisance property’ ordinance, which translates from legalese as police authority to force landlords to evict problem tenants. The law can be used if police are called to a home just three times in four months.

    Also known as “crime-free housing,” these kinds of ordinances place the responsibility of policing private property in the hands of landlords. According to the Times, the real objective is to convince landlords “to weed out drug dealers and disruptive tenants, [while] the laws aim to save neighborhoods from blight as well as ease burdens on the police.”

    So when Briggs’ abusive boyfriend showed up after a stint of jail time for the last time he laid hands on her, she let him move in. “If I called the police to get him out of my house, I’d get evicted… if I physically tried to remove him, somebody would call 911 and I’d be evicted,” she said later.

    Briggs is currently challenging the ordinances, but it did not stop her from succumbing to another violent domestic assault. After begging a neighbor not to dial the police, the neighbor called anyway. Even though her boyfriend was sentenced to one to two years in jail, Norristown officials requested that her landlord evict her or lose his license to rent his property. The ACLU helped Briggs convince the city to back down, but the city tried to argue that Briggs had failed to obtain the right protection orders against the boyfriend and against a troubled 19-year-old daughter.

    The Times spoke with Harvard sociologist Matthew Desmond, who recently conducted a study of citations issued to landlords in Milwaukee. The researchers found that domestic violence was involved in almost a third of citations, and that rentals in predominantly black areas were targeted specifically. “These laws threaten citizens’ fundamental right to call on the police for help,” he said.

    The laws don’t just affect battered women; residents of apartments that were simply involved in crime or police calls are also able to be evicted simply because the calls took place. William Zarnoth, a Milwaukee bartender, found himself evicted after his roommates had an argument and a neighbor called the police. Now Zarnoth can’t rent a new apartment because he has an eviction on his record.

    The eviction problem really only moves troubled tenants out of one neighborhood and into another. A lawyer who works with Legal Action of Wisconsin, April A. Hartman, has said that she really “doubt[s] this policy ends up saving the city money… Milwaukee spends a significant amount of money dealing with the consequences of homelessness and housing instability.”

    The laws in Minnesota and Milwaukee were only very recently revised to specify that domestic violence is not grounds for eviction, but counselors are warning victims that the police do not always perceive abuse, and victims often remain silent because they can’t maintain financial independence or they feel emotionally tied by the abuser.

    Read the full New York Times story here.

  • 50 Cent Pleads Not Guilty In Domestic Violence Case

    50 Cent Pleads Not Guilty In Domestic Violence Case

    37-year-old Curtis Jackson, more popularly known as multi-platinum rapper 50 Cent, pleaded not guilty to domestic violence charges in a Los Angeles court Monday.

    Jackson allegedly kicked his ex-girlfriend, model-actress Daphne Joy, during an argument and then raged through her condo. Authorities claim that Jackson caused $7,100 in damage to the residence, including breaking furniture and chandeliers, before fleeing the scene.

    The city prosecutor’s office released a statement the described the incident: “Allegedly when the female locked herself in her bedroom, Jackson kicked open the bedroom door and kicked her, causing an injury.”

    Although the prosecution initially planned to keep Joy’s identity under wraps, her lawyer reveled it to CNN last month.

    Jackson and Joy have a child together and dated exclusively for years. While Jackson is instantly recognizable, Joy is a more humble celebrity (if such a things exists) having appeared in several television shows. Her biggest role to date was as a mermaid in “Pirates of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” which was released to lukewarm reviews in 2011.

    If found guilty of the charges Jackson could receive $46,000 in fines and up to 5 years in prison.

  • Wife Kills Husband 15 Mins After He Leaves Jail

    WBIR-TV in Knoxville reports that a man was shot and killed by his wife within fifteen minutes of walking out of jail. The man had been arrested only earlier that same day.

    The local sheriff in McMinn County, Tennessee, said that Athens Police Officers had received a call shortly before 8:00 a.m. that Robert Vann Marshall, 34, was in a rage, suicidal, armed and threatening to kill his wife and children. Officers found him at a local motel with a handgun and various pills in his possession. He was arrested for charges relating to the firearm and narcotics.

    Later that day, Marshall made bail, but before leaving was told that there was an active protective order against him. They gave him a copy of it and explained that he was not to go near his wife and children, or even to try to contact his wife, or he would be arrested again.

    Marshall walked out of the police station at 1:27 p.m.

    At 1:38 p.m., 911 got a call that Marshall was at his wife’s residence, attempting to get inside. As officers were en route to the scene, Marshall’s wife told dispatchers that he had tried to force his way into the house, and that she had shot him.

    Officers arrived at the home, found the front door kicked in, and Marshall lying in a bedroom with a fatal gunshot wound to the chest.

    Officers worked the scene as usual, but found nothing inconsistent with Melissa Marshall’s story. They did not arrest or charge her with anything, determining that it was a case of self-defense.

    “It’s a case where domestic violence unfortunately resulted in a loss of life,” said Sheriff Joe Guy. “Court orders won’t keep every aggressor away, but are a useful deterrent to acts of violence and further enable officers to have knowledge of the situation.”

  • Nigella Lawson Leaves Husband After Abuse Photos Leaked

    Nigella Lawson, the popular English cook who found success both in cookbooks and with her own Food Network show, has reportedly left her home after photos were leaked showing her husband choking her as they engaged in heated discussion at a restaurant.

    Lawson married millionaire businessman and art dealer Charles Saatchi in 2003 after her first husband died of throat cancer, and the two have reportedly argued in public before; Saatchi allegedly put his hand over their mouth while they were having dinner together last year. She’s spoken of his fiery temper before, but there haven’t been any indications that her marriage is in trouble.

    In 2007 she said, “I’ll go quiet when he explodes, and then I am a nest of horrible festeringness.”

    Onlookers were horrified as they watched Saatchi put his hands around his wife’s neck no fewer than four times during their argument, and that Lawson was trying to pacify him to avoid a big scene.

    “I have no doubt she was scared,” an onlooker told The Sunday People. “It was horrific, really. She was very tearful and was constantly dabbing her eyes. Nigella was very, very upset.”

    The incident was captured on film and the photos, which were published on The Mirror , are being investigated by Scotland yard. Lawson was seen leaving her home on Sunday with her son, and both were carrying suitcases. Sadly, Lawson was the victim of abuse as a child at the hands of her mother and has said she has a “relentless need to please people” as a result, because she never felt good enough.

    “While it is shocking to see someone as high-profile as Nigella Lawson linked to an alleged attack by her partner, it is vital to remember that domestic violence is actually extremely prevalent, with one in four women being abused by a partner at some point in her lifetime. Many women do not tell anyone because they feel embarrassed or ashamed. Having this story in the news is likely to resonate with many women currently living with abuse, and it is important to remind everyone that there is help and support out there,” said Polly Neate, Chief Executive of Women’s Aid.

    Neither Lawson nor Saatchi have commented on the incident or their relationship so far.

    Image: Nigella.com

  • Ochocinco Arrested For Parole Violations

    Ochocinco Arrested For Parole Violations

    Last fall, former NFL star Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson plead no contest to misdemeanor domestic battery after allegedly head-butting his wife just one month after their wedding. Johnson received one year of probation for the charge, and was cut by the Miami Dolphins.

    Now, Johnson is back in court after violating the terms of his parole. According to a TMZ report, Johnson did not check in with his probation officer for two straight months and failed to show that he was enrolled in a domestic violence education class. A warrant for Johnson’s arrest was issued by Broward County last Thursday.

    In a video of Johnson’s courtroom appearance, the 35-year-old wide receiver described his behavior as a “total misunderstanding” between himself and his probation officer. The judge, however, took issue with the pace at which Johnson was completing his domestic violence classes, saying that he should have been done with them in March. Johnson’s bail has been set at $1,000.