OPINION
face the truth
Stop playing the victim, Arg, and acting like nothing happened – apologise for pushing your girlfriend down the stairs
Arg’s casual comeback isn’t just tone-deaf. It’s insulting. And here's why.
JAMES Argent is back on stage, smiling, singing, and acting like the past few weeks haven’t happened.
Like the night he shoved his girlfriend, Nicoline Artursson, 32, down a flight of stairs in Spain - leaving her bruised, hurt and scared.
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Like the court case where he admitted what he did and was handed a suspended sentence and a restraining order.
But here’s the thing. It did happen. And Arg’s casual comeback isn’t just tone-deaf. It’s insulting.
It was May 5th when the incident took place at Nicoline’s apartment in La Cala de Mijas.
An argument turned violent and Arg, 37, shoved the beauty queen down a flight of concrete stairs - leaving her with cuts and bruises to her neck, arms, and legs.
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Her screams were so loud that neighbours called the police.
Prosecutors were so horrified by her injuries, they initially sought to charge him with wounding and pushed for a nine-month prison sentence.
But under a plea deal, Arg admitted to the lesser offence of "mistreatment".
Along with his six-month suspended sentence and two-year restraining order, he was ordered to complete a 10-week domestic violence rehabilitation programme.
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Sounds like enough to stop anyone from strutting back into the public eye, right? Wrong.
Weeks later, he looked completely carefree while performing at a charity boxing event in London.
Disgraced James Argent breaks social media silence after attack on ex girlfriend Nicoline Arthursson as he shares snap from gig
Grinning, playing up to the crowd, posing for snaps with fans and acting like the assault didn’t happen.
He’s even flogging tickets to his next gig.
I can only come to the conclusion that he's completely ignoring his publicist's advice.
Arg's one and only public statement was self-absorbingly vague.
Referring to his former struggles with addiction, he told : "I haven't relapsed. I am still three years and four months clean and sober. I am devastated by what's happened."
Pardon? Did I read that right?
All I'm hearing is me, me, me.
And that’s the real scandal here. The way Arg has managed to spin it into an opportunity to pity himself.
He’s not acting like a man who just faced a domestic violence conviction. He’s acting like a man hard done by. A man looking for sympathy.
He said he was "devastated" - but didn't even publicly apologise to Nicoline by name.
No, "I’m sorry." No, "I take responsibility." Just a statement focused on his own feelings, as if he were the victim in all this.
But what's even more disturbing is the deafening silence from his celebrity friends and former Towie castmates.
Where are the statements condemning what he did? Where is the outrage? Not one high-profile pal has publicly criticised him.
Not one co-star has taken a stand. It’s as if they’re all waiting for it to blow over - or worse, pretending it never happened.
That silence is complicity.
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If these influencers can post about mental health one minute - and then say nothing when one of their own violently assaults his partner - what does that say about them?
So, Arg - stop playing the victim. Stop acting like nothing's happened. Apologise to Nicoline, own what you did, and start making amends.
Domestic abuse - how to get help
DOMESTIC abuse can affect anyone - including men - and does not always involve physical violence.
Here are some signs that you could be in an abusive relationship:
- Emotional abuse - Including being belittled, blamed for the abuse - gaslighting - being isolated from family and friends, having no control over your finances, what you wear and who you speak to
- Threats and intimidation - Some partners might threaten to kill or hurt you, destroy your belongings, stalk or harass you
- Physical abuse - This can range from slapping or hitting to being shoved over, choked or bitten.
- Sexual abuse - Being touched in a way you do not want to be touched, hurt during sex, pressured into sex or forced to have sex when you do not consent.
If any of the above apply to you or a friend, you can call these numbers:
- on 0808 2000 247 for free at any time, day or night
- Men who are being abused can call Respect Men's Advice Line on 0808 8010 327 or on 0182 3334 244
- Those who identify as LGBT+ can ring on 0800 999 5428
- If you are in immediate danger or fear for your life, always ring 999
Remember, you are not alone.
1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men will experience domestic abuse over the course of their lifetime.
Every 30 seconds the police receive a call for help relating to domestic abuse.
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