I was going to give this topic a miss because it's been everywhere, but it just won't get out of my head so, I'm sorry but, you're stuck with it.
If you want the whole story go to http://www.3news.co.nz/News/NationalNews/TonyVeitchapologisesforassaultonformerpartner/tabid/423/articleID/62479/Default.aspx?ArticleID=62479 (Still haven't worked through the link technology yet.)
Basically, in a nutshell a high profile television and radio sports presenter has admitted to kicking a former girlfriend so hard that she broke her back in four places, injured her head and was left in a wheelchair. She spent months away from her job as general manager of marketing at Vodafone, had a breakdown and later was forced to quit work. It's been reported that he then paid her $100,000 in return for her silence.
Now, this story broke on Monday. On Monday night, there he was back on our screens reporting the sports news and the radio network that employs him was quoted as saying that nothing would change as far as his employment was concerned. Both organisations were quoted as saying they don't comment on personal matters.
Initially it appeared to be an 'if we ignore it, it will go away' strategy.
However the the Women's Refuge and the National Collective of Independent Women's Refuges were having none of it, calling for him to admit what he had done, admit that it was wrong and to make steps to put it right (which didn't include lump sum payments).
On Tuesday it was reported that he would be off air for the week.
On Wednesday he held a press conference, expressing remorse and admitting he 'lashed out in anger, something I will regret to the end of my days. I have lived with that night in my conscience ever since, and I will always do so. I make no excuses for what I did.'
It's a good apology and who ever wrote it for him did it well, but what I really cannot fathom about this case (aside from the brutally obvious) is that both TVNZ and Radio Sport initially avoided dealing with this issue by saying it was a personal issue?
WHAT THE FUCK?
It's been reported that one of your highest profile presenters has seriously assaulted a woman and you're saying it's got nothing to do with you because it's a personal issue?
Call me crazy, but isn't that like saying it's okay?
Do you guys know how much money is spent with your organisations in ad campaigns preventing domestic violence?
Are we to take from this that Jo Average should refrain from domestic violence, but it's okay for your presenters?
And by saying sorry does it make it okay now?
When you consider this assault happened two years ago it does beg the question, is he sorry for what he did, or is he sorry because he got found out ?
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8 comments:
Sweet jeebus, LK, that's horrific. Let me guess, in the news cycle this will play out so that feminists are at fault for having the temerity to raise an objection that some dude gets to brutalize a woman at will. His apology is for shit. How has he suffered in any possible way before women complained or even after. So he gets what is in essence a fucking vacation from his cushy job as a response. I cannot imagine the pain that she's still dealing with and will for years to come. I injured my back in a car wreck years ago and I still have pain. But broken in 4 different places because some fucking savage decided to attack? He should be sacked and imprisoned.
..and not taken to Beijing to be a presenter for the Olympics.
Hmmm...not getting involved with the debate, not sure where I stand on this one. Good on you tho' for saying it as you see it.
Re the linky thing...
Highlight the word you want to make 'live'. E.g. LINK.
Then in blogger (and also other applications) press ctrl + k (not the plus, but ctrl and k together) and then enter the full web address (including all the http stuff and the end-y bits).
Hope this makes sense!
E xx
Beautiful. Thank you!
Hey LK. The problem is that the TV company has to become the jury in the case. If he fraudlently didn't pay tax, or was convicted of some misdemeanour, then what should the company do? The problem lies with the difficulty of being the arbiter of what is sackable and what is not.
Also - the last comment? Clearly he is sorry he got caught. These are not the actions of somebody that is truly remorseful.
Hi Dr.Interestingly, when a high profile presenter over at the rival network was involved in a series scuffle after what, by all accounts, was a boozy dinner (he was attacked and accused of abusing a woman taxi driver)he was immediately stood down and he later resigned - after a seventeen year career.
I suppose my view is that people mess up. And as awful as it is, it comes with the package that is being human. It happens. However if you recognise the fact that you have screwed up, put your hands up, admit it and say you're unspeakably sorry and full of remorse for what you have done - and take it on the chin, well, in my world, that gives you a second chance.
However, if you say you're sorry only after everyone else has discovered your dirty secret, two years after the fact, that's taking the piss.
First, to be clear: I don't condone what he did, and I think it's repulsive, but I also think it's his right not to go public with his personal dirty laundry until his hand was forced. He did apologise and try to make amends back when it happened, he just didn't apologise to the public at large at that time - and I can't blame him for that. Who would voluntarily put themselves through that crap if they didn't have to?
Let's also not forget his former partner never pressed any charges, otherwise he'd be in prison now and this would all be moot.
I suppose I think they way he handled this seems to me like he showed regret, but not remorse.
And also, we live in such a small country, how on earth did he think it was going to stay a secret?
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