Even with the sound down on my television, I knew something horrible had happened when I saw a beautiful young woman on the screen and moments later her sinister looking boyfriend flashed upon it. I later discovered that this beautiful woman was in fact someone well known, fashion designer Sylvie Cachay. She and her former boyfriend Nick Brooks had just broken up after a 6 month relationship, but during that short time, acquaintances describe their relationship as “turbulent.” Brooks was unemployed, suspected of using drugs, and his father, Oscar winner Joseph Brooks, was previously accused of 82 counts of sexual abuse.

On Wednesday, the night before her death, neighbors report hearing them arguing and him stomping around while yelling “You really hurt me.” A fire even broke out in their room and the two were forced to leave her apartment. On Thursday, they checked in to Soho House, a popular celebrity hotel in Manhattan. At around 3 am, hotel dwellers reported leaking in the ceiling and authorities found Sylvie lying face down in an overflowing bathtub with strangulation marks on her neck, blood shot eyes, bite marks on her hand, and pills thrown around the scene. I am no investigator of course, but the cause of death seems clear.

Yet on the Today show, Brooks’ attorney said some things that ultimately compelled me to write about this sad story. When asked if his client was capable of committing this crime, he replied, “All sorts of things can happen between two loving people in an intimate partner relationship.” Jaw drop number one. Then the reporter asked, “People describe their relationship as turbulent.” The attorney shrugged and said “I don’t know any relationship that isn’t turbulent.” Jaw drop number two. I was shocked that someone could take this so lightly.

My heart goes out to Sylvie and her family and I hope that the criminal justice system sorts through this case with a fine toothed comb. Teens, what indicators and warning signs do you see in this case? As a friend or neighbor of Sylvie, what could you have done if you saw these warning signs?

-- Laura B.

Amber faces jail

Oh reality TV! We have no doubt all heard by now that Amber Portwood on MTV’s Teen Mom is always in and out of trouble. Well now she faces criminal charges for battery against her child’s father Gary Shirley. She was seen hitting him multiple times and faces two felonies and a misdemeanor. I have seen interviews in the past where she has belittled him and verbally abused him, but this certainly took it to an escalated level.

For a more in depth article,click here.

What do you all think about guys getting abused by their female partners? Let’s weigh in on this not so often talked about form of intimate partner violence.


--Laura B.

Bruno Mars drops a bomb on the airwaves

Bruno Mars has come out with another catchy song, but “Grenade” sounds more like a warzone than a song about relationships. I understand that break ups are tough and there is usually one person who feels slighted by their ex, but I don’t know that all these weapon references should be blasted out on the airwaves. With all the recent coverage on teen suicides, Mars might need to tone it down. The chorus is below:

I’d catch a grenade for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah)
Throw my hand on a blade for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah)
I’d jump in front of a train for ya (yeah, yeah , yeah)
You know I'd do anything for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah) Oh, oh
I would go through all this pain, Take a bullet straight through my brain,
Yes, I would die for ya baby ; But you won't do the same

Love does not equal being willing to commit suicide or be killed. What do you all think about these violent references?

--Laura B.

Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right When it Comes to DV

Finally! Hollywood is holding celebrities accountable for their abusive behaviors.

By now, I’m sure we have all heard about Mel Gibson’s verbally abusive rant towards his ex-girl friend Oksana Grigorieva. In the recorded telephone conversation Gibson ripped into Grigorieva with such intensity that quite frankly, it was hard to listen to. There are also prior allegations of physical abuse perpetrated by Gibson and a temporary protective order was filed.

Fast forward to October 2010, in typical Hollywood fashion, this incident was beginning to fade from our minds. Gibson was slated to have a role in the highly anticipated "The Hangover 2," but after cast and crew expressed discontent with him being in the movie, Director Todd Phillips pulled him from the cast and replaced with Liam Neeson.

From the coverage I read online, Gibson was furious and didn’t see why "The Hangover" cast Mike Tyson but wouldn’t let him be in the movie. Two wrongs don’t make a right Mel.

In closing, I am just pleased to see that celebrities are holding one another accountable and not forgetting their bad behaviors so quickly. Perhaps Hollywood is finally seeing the connection between people’s bad behavior off screen and the hypocrisy of supporting them in the spotlight.

--Laura B.

There is Nothing Perfect about a "Perfect Nightmare"

Another song about troubled relationships has graced the pop airways. Shontelle’s new hit single “Perfect Nightmare” is playing so much I am having dreams about it.

In this song, Shontelle describes the flood of emotions and uncertainty that are so common for survivors in abusive relationships. She waits for him to change, disguises her pain, and keeps telling herself she doesn’t deserve it. She even packs her bags to leave, but just can’t because she doesn’t want to leave him alone. As she sings, “They say I’m brainwashed but I’m in love with this man,” I think about survivors everywhere who are feeling judged by their friends and family if they are struggling to leave their relationship.

My only concern with the song is the chorus. “But if it’s from you I don’t mind hurting, this in my perfect nightmare.” It is my hope that using this language doesn’t romanticize this sort of unhealthy relationship. But you all are wise readers. What do you think?

Sometimes we fight
Sometimes I cry
Why don't I
Just tell him goodbye
Sometimes I should
But sometimes I don't
Build up the strength to
Say that it's wrong
Sometimes I hate
Sometimes I love
Sometimes I hurt
Sometimes I don't
Sometimes I wait
For him to change
But it's okay
I've disguised the pain
And I don't ever wanna leave him alone
They say i'm brainwashed but i'm in love
With this man
Yeah

(chorus)
Keep telling myself that it's not worth it
I already know I don't deserve it
But if it's from you I don't mind hurting
This is my perfect nightmare
So when will I wake up and scream
No way (x7)
But if it's from you I don't mind hurting
This is my perfect nightmare
Perfect nightmare

Sometimes I keep my cool
Sometimes I let him know
Sometimes I even pack my bags to walk out the door
Sometimes I feel safe
Sometimes I really don't
Sometimes I promise that i'm ready to let him go
But I don't ever wanna leave him alone
They say i'm brainwashed but i'm in love
With this man
Ohh ohhh

Hoping he's changing
But i'm scared he's not
Can't see a way to leave
Help me open my eyes

-Laura B.

“Reviving Ophelia” - Did Hollywood get it right?

I was pleasantly surprised watching the world premiere of the movie on Lifetime. I think that Hollywood glamorizes dating and domestic violence, or brushes it off as the status quo within relationships, but this movie was well done. “Reviving Ophelia” addressed all of the issues that surround teen dating violence including the warning signs of a potentially abusive partner; the different forms of abuse; the barriers that keep girls from leaving; the role a friend can play; and the counseling and legal component of dealing with teen dating violence. This movie covered all of the important points. Let’s break the movie down into The Good, The Bad, and The Ok

The Good
I think the warning signs were easy to spot. Did you catch them all? I liked how the storyline showed that an abusive relationship doesn’t always start out with physical violence. In “Reviving Ophelia,” the character, Mark was jealous, manipulative and controlling by telling Elizabeth what to wear. The movie also showed the difficulties that Elizabeth experienced with trying to break-up with Mark. The one barrier that stood out to me was that Mark showered her with apologies and gifts, and she believed him. What other types of abuse and barriers did you notice?

The Bad
While I thought that the movie was great overall, I did have problems with some of the plot points. Once Elizabeth’s parents were aware of the abuse and sent her to counseling, they rarely communicated with their daughter or the counselor. And realistically, we all know that it’s almost impossible for parents to make their children do something that they don’t want to do. I think that there should have been more information about the parents’ role in helping their teen out of an abusive relationship. Also, I thought the ending was horrible. I know…I know… it is a movie, and it has to have a happy ending. But the idea that Mark could be talked out of kidnapping, shooting and killing Elizabeth and him self by telling him that if he loved her he wouldn’t do it was ridiculous. I wish that escaping a dangerous, abusive relationship was that easy for all teens, but unfortunately we know that things like that only happen in the movies.

The OK
I liked that Kelly, Elizabeth’s cousin, knew that the relationship between Elizabeth and Mark wasn’t right and tried to help (as the intervening bystander). I thought that the idea of no one believing Kelly because she was the “troubled teen” in the family was a little over the top. I also thought that the story of Kelly’s behavior overshadowing her concern played well. But I believe that in reality, someone would have taken her concern more seriously before Elizabeth was punched in the face by Mark. What do you think?


So, what are your thoughts? Did you enjoy the movie as much as I did? What stood out for you? What did you learn? Post your comments below!

Exploitation on OUR sidewalks

08.16.2010

Last week I was at a busy intersection in Atlanta. On the sidewalk, I noticed that there were two teenage girls, probably no more than 14 years old, barefoot in bikinis jumping up and down to drum up business for their car wash. The car wash was being held at a local tire and rim shop and the people actually washing the cars was a group of men. My first thought was, how dare those grown men exploit these young women like this for cash. Don't they know how many people drive through here that don't need to see these girls in bikinis?

As I got closer I noticed something. The girls were smiling ear to ear, as happy as two teenagers could possibly be on a summer day in the city. And that's when it struck me. These girls actually want to be doing this. It meant attention, a distorted sense of power, and they might have actually thought that this was their choice.

You see, that's how sexual exploitation starts. The adult lures the young person with attention, security, false promises, and "love." The teen is led to believe that they are being taken care of and that their best interest is at stake. They often don't foresee the danger to come.

Did you know that the average age of entry into prostitution is 12 years old? That 80-90 percent of prostitution victims have been sexually abused? That every year more than 300,000 children become victims of sexual exploitation within the United States? These alarming statistics are from a chilling clip I came across about sexual exploitation of children. I encourage everyone to watch it and pass it along.

Tough Guise: society's expectations of male dominance

07.27.2010

Thanks to Men Stopping Violence, our local heroes in anti-violence work with men, I came across this great video with Jackson Katz.



In this short clip he looks at how society’s expectations for guys set them up and encourage violence against women. In fact, he argues that guys are trapped by these societal norms too and can leave them feeling like they aren’t tough enough, strong enough, or in control.

But we all know from reading these blogs, that in a healthy relationship no one partner has control. That both people have equal say and are important in the relationship.

Teens, what are your thoughts on “the man box” that media and society have put guys in?

--Laura B.

"Killing Us Softly": Portraying women in the media

07.07.2010

When I came across Jean Kilbourne’s video about the media’s portrayal of women, I was blown away - much like the tiny women in it would with a strong gust of wind. The video takes a critical look at images of women in the fashion industry, movies and magazines.

We are shrinking... literally! Our bodies are shrinking in size, our voices are softened and our bodies are being objectified and pulled apart for the purpose of selling products. Kilbourne urges us to look at the impact that this objectification of our bodies in the media has on our perception of ourselves and on the prevalence of violence against women. This epidemic doesn't only affect grown women, it also affects teen girls and even young girls before hitting puberty.

The media is killing us by encouraging us to kill ourselves with unhealthy eating and exercise habits. We need to let go of what we think we “should” look like and instead focus on just being healthy and happy.

Take a look at the video and share your thoughts on how the media is “Killing Us Softly.”



--Laura B.

Q & A: Can play-fighting lead to serious abuse?

06.28.2010

On March 13, 2010, PADV Teen Scene sponsored our 1st annual Spotlight on Teen Dating Violence summit. We gathered some questions that we were unable to answer during the summit, so we are going to answer them here on our blog. Check back as we answer more questions.

Q: Do you think that two people in a relationship together that play fight could lead to serious abuse?

A: According to Wikipedia, “In humans, play fighting (sometimes called roughhousing or horse-playing) is an activity in which two or more people act as though they are in combat, but without actually meaning to harm their partners, nor dealing sufficient bodily harm to make the game unenjoyable.” However, when we are talking about play fighting where potential teen dating violence is concerned, we might want to look a little more closely. Are both people really okay with it? When does it go too far? Is there a safe word like, “Stop!" or, "Truce!” that both people will respect and listen to?

I think that acting out physically can often be a tool used by those that don’t know the power of verbal communication. Learning ways to express ourselves verbally and through written form is a much more effective way to show emotion and communicate with our partners. Therefore, if you or your partner play fight a lot it might mean you don’t have healthy communication. Also, physical aggressiveness is an indicator of violent tendencies.

And do we really want to wrestle with our partners? Wikipedia goes on to say, “Similar behavior is visible in other animals including cats, dogs, gorillas and kangaroos.” Since being in a relationship isn’t about combat or acting like kangaroos, I think we can move away from play fighting with our partners.

-- Laura B.

Lady Gaga's 'Telephone": Should you pick up?

06.10.2010

I know in the past I have ripped Lady Gaga for her videos and lyrics. You can reference my previous blog on her video "Paparazzi" here. However, like the rest of the world, I too have joined the Lady Gaga fan wagon. I even heard on the radio that teens in Asia are using the phrase "oh my Lady Gaga," as a replacement for "oh my God." While this is obviously a stretch, it does speak volumes on the level of her worldwide popularity and exposure.

Despite the questionable content of her latest video, "Telephone" featuring Beyonce, there are some positive aspects in the song's lyrics. They send a message about having boundaries with your partner when it comes to technology. Even though we have phones that make us accessible at all times, it is still a person's right to have some time away from one's partner.

Whether you're at a school dance, studying for a test or hanging out with friends, you have a right to have a break from calling or texting from your partner. In a healthy relationship where there is trust, communication and mutual respect, "blowing up the phone" or calling all the time isn't acceptable. One line says, "You should've made some plans with me, you knew that I was free, and now you won't stop calling me, I'm kinda busy." Your point is taken Lady Gaga.

Teens, what do you think about teens in relationships needing access to each other. Do you feel like your partner should be accessible to all your calls and vice versa?

--Laura B.

Q & A: What should you do if someone rapes you?

05.27.2010

On March 13, 2010, PADV Teen Scene sponsored our 1^st annual Spotlight on Teen Dating Violence summit. We gathered some questions that we were unable to answer during the summit, so we are going to answer them here on our blog. Check back as we answer more questions.

This week's blog was answered by Amarinthia Torres, Family Violence Intervention Program specialist and advocate for survivors of domestic violence, rape and sexual assault.

Q: What should you do if someone rapes you?

A: Sexual violence of any kind can be scary, traumatic and confusing. It takes a lot of courage and strength to come forward about someone pressuring or forcing you to have sex when you don't want to.

It can be really hard to know what to do when something like this happens. Do you tell someone and if so, who? What about the police? These questions are completely valid and normal. The truth is, you know yourself the best and only you can decide what is best for you. But, it can help to know what the options are. Here are some things that you might want to consider:

• Tell a trusted friend. Dealing with the effects of something like rape can be difficult to handle alone. Sometimes it can help to have someone you trust to talk to who will just listen, support you and keep things between the two of you. However, if the idea of telling someone you know makes you feel embarrassed or uncomfortable, that's okay. Remember, PADV has a 24-hour crisis line that is anonymous, confidential and free. Call them at 404.873.1766 or 770.963.9799.
  
  
• Tell your parents or another adult. This may not be an easy option for some teenagers. But, your parents can often help give you advice or make sure you are okay. And if not your parents, telling another trusted adult (like a school counselor, relative, coach or teacher) can help you deal with what has happened.
  
  
• Seek medical attention. Because sexual violence involves sexual acts, there are some very real health concerns. Survivors may be exposed to injuries or pain, sexually transmitted infections and the risk of pregnancy. By going to the hospital, women's clinic or your doctor, you can receive help for these things. In addition to checking your health, medical attention is also important in the event that you want to file a report with the police, they can take medical evidence to help you press charges.
  
  
• Make a report with the police. You have the option of reporting what happened to you to the police. Some survivors report the assault but others choose not to press charges or don't pursue a full investigation. Other times, survivors feel empowered by speaking with police about what happened and want to seek out justice by telling about the experience. There is no right or wrong answer here. It comes down to what's right for you.
  
  
• Find healing and recovery. In the aftermath of an assault, it is important to take care of yourself and surround yourself with support. Some survivors write about what they are feeling in a journal or through spoken word, music or poetry. Some people may call a hotline to talk things out. Find what works for you to help deal with the trauma you've been through.
  

Remember, no matter what the situation, no matter what you did or didn't do, it's never okay to do something to another person's body without them saying it's okay. Your options matter and you have the right to decide for you what happens to your body and have that decision be respected at all times. Remember, you never lose that right, no matter what.

Q & A: How can you tell if a guy is being abused?

05.05.2010

On March 13, 2010, PADV Teen Scene sponsored our 1^st annual Spotlight on Teen Dating Violence summit. We gathered some questions that we were unable to answer during the summit, so we are going to answer them here on our blog. Check back as we answer more questions.

Q: How can you tell if a guy is being abused?

A: Abuse for young men is the same as abuse for young women. The statistic states that 1 in 4 teens have experienced physical, verbal, emotional, or sexual abuse from a dating partner. Usually, abusive young women are more verbally and emotionally abusive, but female abusers can also use physical and sexual violence. Abuse also occurs in same-sex relationships at the same rate, 1 in 4. The effects of the abuse on young men are the same as the affects of abuse on young women. Some red flags may include changes in appearance, mood swings, worrying about your dating partner’s thoughts and feelings, your dating partner always wanting to know where you are, becoming more isolated, not hanging out with friends, etc. If you think that you may be abused, seek help.

Q: How does he tell me that he’s being abused without feeling weak?

A: If males are being abused, they may not report for fear of the stigma of appearing “weak” to their friends, family or peers. Young men who are being abused can talk to a trusted adult, a male, that can make them feel safe disclosing without judgment. If young men do not feel comfortable talking to a man that they know, they can always call an anonymous hotline. Sometimes, teens run the hotline and they do not know the caller on the other end of the phone or the situation, so they are not judgmental. They are trained to listen, not to make you feel bad, and can give you resources. The National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline number is 1-866-331-9474. Males need to get help, too. Don’t be so afraid of what people will think. Seek help because no one deserves to be abused.

Sexting: It's a crime

04.13.2010

If you have been reading our blog, you know my stance on sexting. If you don't check out our "Sex and technology" blog here. We've mentioned how sexting and teen dating violence are linked, but we haven't talked about the legal consequences of sexting. In the state of Georgia, sexting between minors (young people under the age of 18) is a crime.

Yes, a crime. At the very least, you could find yourself expelled from school if you send explicit pictures of yourself or others. At most, you could end up in jail.

In metro Atlanta, there have already been cases of teens charged with disciplinary action for sexting.

• In Forsyth County, a seventh grader was suspended for 10 days for sending an explicit picture of herself to male students at her school.
• Students at an Atlanta private school may have criminal charges brought against them for sexting in school. One student has been suspended and another withdrew from the school.
• A Clayton County teen was put behind bars for sending an explicit photo of himself to a 16-year-old girl.

Check out this information from Lawyers.com about sexting and the law. Think of the consequences of sexting before you push send!

--Jil

The importance of safety planning

03.26.2010

In the March 8 edition of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the newspaper reported that a 19-year-old woman was killed by her 22-year-old live-in boyfriend before he turned the gun on himself. The article stated that the woman had moved out of the home the previous week. In talking with teens, I often hear, “if her man is abusing her, why not just leave?” One reason why women may stay in an abusive relationship is because it could be fatal for them to leave. Statistics show that women who leave an abusive relationship have a 75 percent greater risk of being killed by their partner. Because of this, it is so important to safety plan in order to make a safe transition from the relationship. A safety plan can include:

• changing your work schedule or the location of your work,
• taking different routes to and from home,
• changing phone numbers and email addresses,
• changing school schedules or transferring schools,
• getting a Temporary Protective Order (TPO) placed on your abuser (if you are a teen under the age of 18, you have to have a parent or guardian obtain the TPO for you),
• creating code words with your family and friends, so if you run into your abuser, you can safely let your family and friends know that you are in need of help without alarming your abuser, and
• talking to others, particularly parents or other trusted adults, about the abuse.

By creating a safety plan, you increase your odds for leaving an abusive relationship safely. Click on the links below for safety plans designed specifically for teens and college students.

Teen Safety Plan

http://www.thesafespace.org/pdf/handout-safety-plan-workbook-teens.pdf

College Student Safety Plan

http://www.thesafespace.org/pdf/handout-safety-plan-workbook-college.pdf

International Women's Day

03.09.2010

Yesterday was International Women's Day which celebrated women and encouraged us to take a moment and reflect on women's issues around the world. For us at PADV Teen Scene, we reflected on the work that we do, the amount of progress that we've made in our community and how far we have to go in reaching our goal of ending teen dating violence.

Last year, PADV presented a total of 67 Teen Dating Violence presentations to 2,939 participants. By giving these presentations at schools, churches and youth groups, we were able to provide the metro Atlanta community with more information about teen dating violence, how to recognize the warning signs in an abusive relationship and tools on establishing healthy dating relationships.

For our first annual Spotlight on Teen Dating Violence summit, we have more than 200 teens, parents, educators, youth leaders and community members coming out to Clark Atlanta University this Saturday. We were overwhelmed and overjoyed at the response from the community. In correlation with our summit, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has an article promoting the event and sharing the stories of two survivors of teen dating violence; one of which will be sharing their story at the event.

While we are glad to see such great results, but we hope that next year we can reach out to even more teens, parents and youth leaders. If you live in metro Atlanta and are interested in benefiting from a teen dating violence presentation, call PADV at 404-870-9600. For more information, go to http://www.padv.org.

Stalking and dating violence

02.12.2010

When I first heard the breaking story about a sword attack on Georgia Tech’s campus I thought, a sword fight? In 2010? But after reading the full story, I realized the seriousness of the incident and I saw many indicators that could be linked to stalking and dating violence.

Five months ago, Kshitij Shrotri, the alleged attacker, became enraged after seeing Samer Tawfik, the assault victim, dancing with a woman he liked at a campus dance. Despite the fact that the woman says that she doesn’t really know Shrotri on a personal level, people described him as having an obsession with her. The two had been corresponding over email and Shrotri moved out of state. But unfortunately, last week he returned and attacked Tawfik in his jealous rage.

We often talk about excessive jealousy as a big warning sign when it comes to dating violence. Even though the attacker wasn’t actually dating the woman, his jealousy and desire to control who she spent her time with was dangerous.

Check out the full story here.

Do you think there were warning signs that could have possibly prevented this violent attack?

Be an advocate this February

02.03.2010

This February marks the first annual National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM). Are you looking for ways to get involved and be an advocate this month? Here are a few ways for you to be an advocate and speak out against teen dating violence:

• Acknowledge how often violence against women occurs in literature that you read for class. One example is To Kill a Mockingbird, which features a case about brutal rape. While we hope that you read the book (especially if it’s for a class assignment), we hope that you also bring to light the violence depicted in the book and explain to your classmates how this behavior is not okay.
  
  
• Read blogs and websites that provide information about teen dating violence. A few websites that we recommend are www.loveisrespect.org, www.thatsnotcool.org and www.padv.org.
  
  
• Advocate for an assembly at your school to talk about teen dating violence and building healthy relationships. Get some friends together and ask your teachers and school administrators how to make it happen!
  
  
• Talk to a friend about teen dating violence. Since most teens may not go to a parent or teacher for help, let your friends know that they can talk to you about their relationship with their boyfriend or girlfriend.
  
  
• Invite a speaker to speak at your class, youth group, team outing or study group. To schedule a speaker from PADV, call 404.870.9600.
  
  
• Print out a resource list for teens and distribute it at school and in your community. Check out www.loveisnotabuse.com for some great resources.
  
  
• Make a note of songs and music videos that depict violence against women. After making the list, don’t listen to songs that have bad messages or lyrics.
  
  
• Write a letter thanking your Senate representative for their support of this year’s National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month initiative. To learn who your Senate rep is, click here.
  
  
• Encourage your parents or guardians to learn more about teen dating violence. Check out PADV’s website under the Teen Dating Violence section and click on “For Parents.”
  
  
• Don’t watch TV shows that promote violence, especially violence against women. Some
  
  
• Register and attend PADV’s Spotlight on Teen Dating Violence: What’s Your Role? To learn more about this summit, click here.

What are other ways that you can advocate for teen dating violence? Share your ideas here and with your friends, family and community!

Anger vs. Power & Control

01.14.2010

Before I began working for PADV, I thought that domestic and dating violence was about one partner getting angry with the other and becoming physically violent with them. I often referenced my own upbringing with violence in the home, thinking that anger was the root cause of fighting between mom and dad. Dinner wasn’t ready on time, Dad had a bad day, my sibling and I were unruly; things that would make any father angry after a long, hard day at work. But as I began this line of work, I realized the thin line between being angry and expressing that anger, and controlling someone and expressing anger when that someone tries to break free from control.

A really good example of this occurred on an episode of my favorite new show, GLEE. On GLEE, the main character is a teacher named Will, whose wife, Terri, had been faking a pregnancy. Terri’s reason for faking the pregnancy was to “hold on” to Will because she felt that he was slipping away from her and would leave her and the marriage. When Will found out about the fake pregnancy, he was angry. He yelled, grabbed her wrist, snatched the fake baby bump off of her (it was held on by Velcro) and walked out. It was an intense scene, making people wonder if it could be seen as a form of domestic violence.

To see the episode where this scene occurs, click here.

What was your take about this scene? Do you think this is domestic violence?