Thursday, May 14, 2015

Daytime television host Jeremy Kyle has been praised for calling out his own audience for laughing at a male victim of domestic violence.

The British broadcaster was interviewing a young father-of-two who described the abuse he had suffered at the hands of his female partner.

Domestic violence victim Geoff appears on The Jeremy Kyle Show. Photo: ITV

"She locked me in the flat. Obviously me being angry I didn't know that the door was locked, I've gone over, I've grabbed the door handle, pulled it and it's come straight off in my hands," Geoff said.

"So I was stuck on a three-storey flat, and I've had to jump off a three-storey balcony."

The predominately female audience then erupted in laughter, as Geoff tried to speak up about his horrific injuries, and how he ended up in hospital because his partner would not let him out of the house.

"I cut all my arm and back open," Geoff is heard saying underneath the crowd's laughter, until Jeremy Kyle shakes his head and then interjects.

Audience members were taken aback when host Jeremy Kyle questioned how they would feel if the gender roles were reversed. Photo: ITV

"It's not funny though. Can I tell you why it's not funny and I don't want to upset any of the audience, because I completely appreciate the fact that you're here but I'll tell you why I don't think you should laugh."

"If this was the other way round and a woman was sat here and a bloke had locked her in her flat and she had to jump out, and injured herself, you lot would not be laughing, you would be saying 'he's a complete nightmare, he should be locked up and that's disgraceful'".

"But somehow if it happens to a bloke that's funny. That's not funny is it?"

There was an outpouring of support on social media for Geoff and for Kyle's response.

Anti-domestic violence campaigners One in Three say at least one in three family violence and abuse victims in Australia is male, and suggests it could be as many as one in two.

One in Three spokesperson Greg Andresen said the Jeremy Kyle segment shows a double standard is "alive and well".

"Male victims are much less likely to be taken seriously and this is a good example," Mr Andresen told Yahoo7.

Geoff's girlfriend appears on The Jeremy Kyle Show. Photo: ITV

He said that speaking up can be incredibly emasculating for men, especially when reporting domestic violence to the police.

"They’re much likely than women to be told to 'man up, grow some balls', or 'can’t you handle your wife?'"

Andresen also said there is a common misconception that women, who can be comparatively smaller in size and strength, cannot be perpetrators.

*If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, find help by contacting MensLine 1300789978 - White Ribbon 1800 RESPECT 1800737732. or Lifeline 131114.

For more information about the latest statistics on domestic violence visit the One in Three website.

News break - May 14