Keira Knightley Anti-Domestic Violence Video | 04/02/2009 12:15 pm
Keira Knightley Stars in Domestic Abuse PSA (Video)
Knightley’s anti-violence ad for Women’s Aid launches in wake of Chris Brown’s alleged attack of girlfriend Rihanna.
Keira Knightley in Anti-Violence Video
A disturbing PSA about domestic violence starring Keira Knightley will soon début in theaters.
The two-minute clip, which can be viewed below, will start airing April 6, People reports. It depicts the 24-year-old being violently kicked and beaten by a man.
"While domestic violence exists in every section of society, we rarely hear about it," says the actress, who volunteered to act in the emotional ad for the British charity Women’s Aid. And according to womensaid.org, the number of fatal domestic violence cases is astonishing. On average, the website says, two women a week are killed by a current or former male partner.
The British beauty plays an actress who is beaten by her boyfriend. A man greets her, hits her in the face, pulls her hair and kicks her. As Knightley curls herself into a ball on the floor, her attacker continuously kicks her in the stomach. The kicking continues while cameras pan out to reveal an abandoned studio. The words "Isn’t it time someone called cut?" appear on the screen, and it’s exactly what we were thinking.
The controversial clip airs amid of one of the most shocking, high-profile domestic dispute cases, which involves two young, influential entertainers. Rapper Chris Brown, who is accused of allegedly beating his singer girlfriend Rihanna, faces arraignment in the next few days.
Watch (Warning: graphic violence):
Click here to read the full People.com article.
Read more about: Celebrity, Chris Brown, Domestic Abuse, Entertainment, Keira Knightley, News, Relationships, Rihanna, Video, Violence
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22 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment
After reading the article, I could not watch the film clip. I’ve read that the only way to stop the abuse is for women to prosecute their husbands or lovers and to get these men behind bars. But women have a knack for talking themselves into forgiving when forgiveness is not the issue. These men have hurt them … hurt them physically and they still take them back into the home. A lot of studies have been done about this subject and the reasons why women are so frightened of their abusers …just as much as they are afraid of being alone. What to do? Is there an answer?
I did volunteer work once for a women’s shelter in Berkeley. The advocates who worked with the abused women had very little success in keeping the women from returning to their abusers. It was heartbreaking ….. especially if standing beside the woman in the shelter were one or two small children.
Dear Bonnie, First I applaud you for volunteering at a women’s shelter. They are a wonderful resource that I’ve had to take advantage of. Second, it sounds like you’ve never been a victim of DV and you are so lucky but the questions you ask where the same ones I asked before I got involved in a violently abusive relationship. Here is what I learned.
Abusers are sociopaths and psychopaths. They have a plan and they stick to it. They are charming and charismatic as they win you over and when things become serious and you live together they slowly put the next phase of their sickness into action by isolating you from the world and keeping you completely off balance until it’s too late when you realize you have no money or friends. When that realization finally happens you also realize that he’s been increasingly abusive verbally and now the physical abuse starts. He knows he’s doing it and, in my case, would put a gun to my head and tell me he’ll blow my head off if I call the Cops or tell anyone what he’s doing to me. The even sicker part is how the next day they will hug you and snuggle you and talk sweetly about how much they love you but they always throw in the "why do you make me do this to you" line. Oh, right, my sleeping on the couch is what made your football team lost. I’m sorry I guess I did deserve that beating then.
As far as going back too them. I did that once and it was not out of fear of being alone but the way he behaved. How he cried and said he ruined the best thing in his life and all he was going to do was kill himself if I left and stupid me fell for it. That almost cost me my life because then he was charming again, he was grooming me again and when he had my trust again the beatings where far more violent. Like he was catching up for lost time. He was finally arrested when he beat me so badly that the crime scene investigator told me she has never photographed anyone as injured as me. I was literally a bloody, black and blue mess from the top of my head to my feet. I didn’t go back after that.
For women in California, and you may be aware of this Bonnie, there is a program called "Safe At Home" that is available for victims and is operated through the Secretary of State. It keeps all my personal information hidden. My address is through the Secretary of State and my Driver’s License, etc is in a Confidential Records Unit. It’s very difficult to find the victim and works much better than a Restraining Order.
Rebecca…thank you for your story….I have worked for almost 20 years in our shelter, and we constantly have a waiting list for women and their children to check in….never enough beds….
Your story is heartbreaking….just as many DV victims are….it is very hard to understand what happens in a DV relationship unless you have lived it yourself….when we do speaking about DV, it’s always the first question…"why don’t she just leave"…I can understand the question, but many situations make that impossible for many reasons, threats to kill family members, taking away the children, money, religion, pets just so many reasons….many people want to blame the victim for not leaving, instead of first understanding….
With your experience I truly hope you are a speaker of DV and using your story to bring the awareness of DV out there….a great place to do speaking engagements are at High Schools…that’s where we have to start….thank you for sharing your story…it’s very hard for many to speak out….but you could make a difference in many women’s lives….I admire you for your courage to leave, may God bless you.
Thank you Libra Lady, It’s been a tough few years. No, I am not a speaker, it’s still all too fresh, all too raw as his arrest was three years ago and the legal stuff only ended month ago. However, the experience did change my life. I began volunteering with the Police Dept and now that I am living in a new city I am going to become a Reserve Officer, in fact, they just finished by background investigation. It’s so important to have police women available for female crime victims. Like when they where photographing my injuries I was naked and that would have been very difficult with a male officer no matter how hot he looks in his uniform.
I will admit that before I was a victim I held two common misconceptions about DV. First, it only happens to poor, uneducated people. Wrong! It knows no income or education. Second, why didn’t she just leave? Because the abuser has made it physically and/or psychologically impossible to do so. Things like threats of murder and being physically restrained in the home with lock and chain are all too real and make it impossible for a woman to leave. Because I now know these things I may one day become a speaker. If it saves one life it will be worth it.
Rebecca, I agree with you about having a female officers caring for victims of abuse and rape….I think many more women are more apt to report rape knowing they will have a female supporting them through the trauma….we also have advocates that are called and go and sit with the victim and lend support…very important! We are very lucky because we currently have Board members who are officers and it has really helped in their training in their own depts. about DV….they have a much better understanding. What is very scary is victims who’s abuser is with the law enforcement, we have had to deal with that a couple of times which is very difficult.
I understand your situation is still very fresh to you and what a great career path you have chosen to become a Reserve Officer….you will be an asset to all women….I know someday you will be able to become a speaker when you are ready. Our best speakers are those who have been through the experience…their stories always touches the the hearts of the listeners and helps many young girls and women who are currently involved in a DV relationship.
It was so nice discussing this with you Rebecca….we may not agree on everything, but this one is something that I have focused my career on and even though very difficult at times…..it is very rewarding. I wish you all the best in your chosen path.
Bonnie….why thank you and I do remember you had said you volunteered at one time….you are very special to do that…..It’s not easy work and many of our advocates and case managers get burned out….it’s tough work….the abusers know just how to work the system, and that’s the disheartening thing about DV….I hope the penalties get stronger and more jail time…they know exactly how and where to beat a woman so bruises do not show….they know exactly how to cover themselves and act like the good guy…and they know just the right things to say to the victim to make them feel sorry for them and take them back….I could go on and on….I don’t have any use for abusers and hopefully this video will be a wake up call to see what is going on….how an abuser can watch something like this without feeling like a piece of s___t, is beyond me. Thank you Bonnie….it’s always good chatting with you.
Libra, I have never been exposed to this type of behavior, however, I have had friends who have and who came to me for a safe place to "wait it out." I was always amazed that they went back to the violence and uncertainty. Eventually, they were able to leave and divorce. I cannot say enough for the great people who protect these women (and men) from domestic violence and help them get back on their feet to move forward.
Libra Lady, you are a very special person, indeed, for working all these years for a much needed and wonderful organization. I know you have many stories to tell…I hope most of them were success stories. Thank you for taking care of these women and their families! We need more people like you.
Rebecca G -
You are correct. I have not been a victim of DV but I did not mean to leave the impression that I i think less of the abused woman who returned to her abuser. I’ve heard the stories of the husbands sobbing and promising to never hit again. Your own story is heartbreaking. I am so very glad for you that not only did you survive, but you survived with your inner self intact. You are one strong lady.
This was really a tough video to watch…even though I have seen many like this on DV and heard live video feed of an abuser beating his partner while the children are crying in the back ground….I think the toughest one to listen to is the little girl who calls 911 while her daddy is abusing her mommy and you can hear the little girl crying and begging her daddy to stop hitting her mommy…..it’s a tough one to listen to. This video is a hard one too, but the awareness has to get out there…maybe teens will see it in a movie theater and let them see what DV is about! We can only hope.
Bonnie, you are right…women do go back to their abuser….sometimes it can take up to 7-10 times….it is very hard to understand why, but all the advocates can do is listen and tell them how to stay safe….they can’t tell them not to go back….if it has been reported that the children have been abused or are in danger, then CPS will be notified….that’s what makes it very hard because thanks to the abuser, the mother can lose her children, which keeps many women from coming to shelter, because she fears that. It’s not an easy situation and there are no easy answers….
Thank you Wow for making this one of your topics…..great job!!!
Watching this clip brought back many painful memories as I too, was a victim of DV. At that time there were no shelters and very little counseling was available. After 6 years of abuse, I finally left and my life has been richly rewarded with a great husband of 38 years. As Libra Lady commented, it’s a difficult situation and there are no easy answers, but thank god there are places for women to go now and receive help. No one should have to go through this and my advice is for one to get out while they can before it’s too late.
On a less serious note….I say to Burca ….please don’t say it wasn’t has bad as the last 8 years of Bush.