Warning: this post deals with violence against women and may be triggering to some readers.
It’s been reported by The Daily Mail this week that Rose Jacobs has taken out an Apprehended Violence Order against her estranged husband, television presenter Steve Jacobs.
One would think that this news report would be sad for the public to read – to contemplate that there could have been enough evidence of threats and/or violence from Steve against Rose that the situation met the criteria for an AVO to be granted.
But apparently, to some people, it’s not as sad as much as it is her fault – according to online comments in response to The Daily Mail article.
Former Today Show weather presenter Steve, 51, and his journalist wife Rose, 39, were married in 2010, and have two children, Isabella and Francesca. They moved from Sydney to Vanuatu in January 2017 for a “sea change” as they called it at the time, but reportedly separated at the end of the year. Rose has since been linked to 32-year-old Canadian and Vanuatu resident, Dylan Nash.
Mamamia reached out to Rose and Steve for comment, and at the time of publication, neither had responded.
There’s been intense public interest in the break-up of the high-profile couple, and so news of an apparent AVO was always going to incite further speculation – and that’s exactly what happened in response to The Daily Mail piece.
In the comments section, user ‘icutthroughthecrap’ in Sydney queried, “Was there any physical confrontation, or is she just a drama queen?”
Top Comments
Your entire argument is predicated on the idea the courts are flawless & never get it wrong. The close correlation between family breakdown & male suicides suggest they get it oh so very wrong, so very often. Everyone knows thanks to the Duluth model AVOs are easy for a women to take out against a man as men are stronger than women & that's the only requirement to meet the risk based approach criteria. Once one is issued it destroys his chances of a fair hearing in a child custody hearing once he's been painted as dangerous & potentially violent. They are often used as a means of leverage to bring about a beneficial outcome to one party over the other thruout the entire family breakdown process. Men are expected to just suck it up. But as you are witnessing the unintended consequence. The accumulative effect of using this valid tool designed to protect vulnerable people irrespective of age & gender, as a mere trump card is a debasement or devaluation of true DV survivors & victims. Hence the conclusions you see commenters reaching for. You shouldn't be surprised. You should instead be learning so you won't be surprised when the #MeToo campaign to slander men & destroy their careers/lives online with accusations of sexual harrasment with no evidence whosoever has the same dilution effect of true victims of sexual crime. Maybe it's time women start holding each other to account. And shame those who cry wolf.
The correlation with male suicides is ‘they are weak’ mentally. If they can’t stand the heat stay out of the kitchen. They create the need for an AVO and can’t handle the fall out. If they didn’t use their physical strength in the first place everybody would be better off, them included. You are implying the bulk of AVO’s are crying wolf and they ARE NOT. You have no idea Richard, as usual.
Yes, let’s encourage women to turn on one another - nice move.
'The correlation with male suicides is ‘they are weak’ mentally.'
WTF? Outrageously offensive.
The Jacobs situation looks very messy and I read elsewhere that Jacobs actually had an altercation with his wife's new lover to earn the AVO. The incredibly ripped ex-commando.
I never endorse violence, but if there is an inequity of strength in that altercation, Jacobs had the short end of the stick.
Anyone who thinks the slightly pudgy weather man would win in a fight over a jacked ex Royal Marine needs their head read...
I agree that if a court has issued paperwork that’s sufficent, but I note a police report or court order isn’t called for when someone #metoo, so it’s a bit of a double standard isn’t it?
Hit the nail on the head Les. While I don't condone Barnaby Joyce's behaviour, I was flabbergasted when the WA woman's allegations were made but initially, Barnaby Joyce wasn't allowed to know her name! How in God's name can you defend yourself if you don't know your enemy? Also, in the case of Geoffrey Rush: he's been accused of 'inappropriately touching' a co star. No mention has been made of where. She said the touch made her feel uncomfortable. She's an actor, not the bloody Queen! Actors are going to be touched all over the place. If she's that squeamish, she's in the wrong job!
If we look back 100 years into history, African American men were publically lynched on the say so of white women who accused them of rape; cf To Kill a Mockingbird. At best they got a show trial before being hung. Today we would see this practice as totally barbaric in so many ways, but at its heart the #metoo movement is very similar, a claim, not needed to be proven or even in some cases allowed to be challenged leads to the destruction of a mans career and in some cases has driven men to suicide.
I have no problem with rapists going to jail, I have never met a single person who does and even in jail, other criminals target rapists in their expression of morality even criminals hate rapists. But to throw out claims without any police report or consequence is just plain wrong and unjust.
Yes it may be unjust for the innocently accused, but what about the millions or billions of women (and men) who have suffered DV and sexual assault in silence over the centuries. Social media gives them a way to have their stories heard and come together in numbers against a predator without going through the criminal justice system, which, let’s face it, is heavily weighted in favour of the perpetrators and often revictimises the victim.
It’s not May be unjust, it is unjust, it’s a textbook example of unjustness. The reason the onus is on the accuser and not the accused is because we believe in innocent until proven guilty for any crime and it’s a great thing we do as you could ask anyone during the Salem Witch Trials.
If you have been sexually assaulted, you go to the police who can and will investigate, including seeking out other witnesses. It’s people who don’t go to police that leaves crims out on the streets, creating more victims.