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Celebrities Involved In Domestic Abuse

By: Amanda Smith

Many celebrities have found themselves in the hot seat with law-enforcement due to physical altercations with their significant others. Although it has always been this way (they are only human), recent studies suggest that it has become more prevalent and the celebrities themselves seen content with having their dirty laundry aired. The celebrity cases presented each month are a mix of old news and recent, young and old, from movie stars to sports stars. Therefore, I give you this month’s

Celebrity Hot Seat

· In June of 1997, actor Charlie Sheen pleaded no

contest to physically abusing his former girlfriend the

December before and received a one year suspended

sentence and two years probation. Sheen must also

pay $2,800 in fines and restitution attend counseling

sessions and perform 300 hours community service.

He is forbidden from contacting his ex-girlfriend.

· WWE professional wrestler “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, whose real name is Steve Williams, turned himself into police on charges of assaulting his wife, fellow WWE performer Debra Williams. In June 2002, Williams called police to the couple’s home in San Antonio and police saw a large noticeable welt beneath her right eye, reports Entertainment Weekly. Austin was not at the house when the police arrived and he was not arrested. In August 2002, he turned himself in, posted $5,000 bond, and was released pending future legal action.

· Eminem, 26, is a critically acclaimed and extremely popular rap musician who has courted controversy throughout his highly successful career. Marshall Mathers’ LP was the second-best-selling album of 2000, behind ‘N Sync’s No Strings Attached. Mathers’ LP sold 7.9 million copies in the U.S. alone. Wife abuse, murder, rape, and other forms of violence against women and gay people are consistent themes throughout the music of Eminem, who is easily the most popular white rapper ever. On both his albums, he performs songs about murdering his wife, Kim. Last year, Eminem filed for divorce from his wife, who tried to commit suicide. They then reportedly reconciled. He has written lyrics in which he fantasizes about raping his mother, who is suing him for these and other inflammatory lyrics about her. Eminem was also arrested for attacking a bartender with a gun; he said he believed the bartender had flirted with his wife.

After deliberating for just half an hour, a jury acquitted Minnesota Vikings quarterback Warren Moon of assaulting his wife, Felicia. Called by their terrified seven year old son, police arrived and arrested Moon after Felicia told them he had beaten her. She later recanted, saying that she struck first and that he was merely trying to restrain her. Prosecutors had attempted to use a controversial new law to make Felicia testify against her husband. In later interviews, the Moons declined to criticize the law, stating that it was misused in their case.

You are Visitor # Hit Counter Updated Wednesday April 05, 2006 12:40:42