Charles Saatchi has today insisted it was a ‘playful tiff’, but the question remains why did no one step in to stop him grabbing his wife Nigella Lawson by the throat at a busy London restaurant.
The advertising magnate has insisted the pictures looked ‘far more drastic and violent’ than reality but still surely the none-the-wiser diners and passers-by in that moment would not be aware of his detailed reasoning.
The alleged altercation took place in the middle of the day in one of Mayfair’s most exclusive restaurants with sources stating that Nigella was ‘upset’ and with ‘a real look of fear’ – and yet no one went to the aid of the star when it looked like things were getting out of hand.
It is an unsettling thought to think that members of the public would only be too happy to carry on dining, or walk on by, when a woman is clearly in distress.
Furthermore, should the paparazzi – who always just happen to be in the right place at the right time to capture events like this on film – take more responsibility and potentially step in during altercations of this type?
The photographer who caught the Saatchi-Lawson incident could have approached the scene to make sure she was OK.
Instead, Nigella was followed and seen tearfully getting into a car to escape the scene.
Do we really live in a society where a blind eye can be turned when someone is being ‘throttled’ across a dinner table?
Of course boundaries should be adhered to in relation to interfering in other people’s business, but when lines are crossed during public disputes, society really should step up to do something to help.
