BBC Question Time presenter Fiona Bruce has stood down from her role as ambassador for domestic violence charity Refuge after complaints over remarks she made on the programme.
Last week, Bruce interrupted journalist Yasmin Alibhai-Brown after she described Stanley Johnson, who is due to receive a knighthood in his son Boris’ resignation honours, as a “wife beater” on the show to say that “friends of his have said it did happen, it was a one off”.
Viewers complained about Bruce’s interruption and her use of the phrase “one off” in particular, with some calling for her to be removed as an ambassador of Refuge.
But the charity said in its initial statement, published on Friday, that it “stands by her and all survivors today”.
“We continue to be appreciative of all the work Fiona does on behalf of Refuge and recognise the immense contribution she has made to our work to end domestic abuse and challenge violence against women and girls,” it said.
Refuge’s statement drew criticism over the weekend, with many suggesting that the charity should have removed Bruce as an ambassador.
Today, it published a new statement, announcing Bruce’s departure after 25 years as an ambassador.
Refuge: Bruce’s words ‘not her own’ but ‘minimised the seriousness of domestic abuse’
Bruce’s “one off” comment referred to Stanley Johnson allegedly breaking the nose of the late artist Charlotte Wahl, who is also reported to have said her ex-husband “hit me many times, over many years”.
Refuge said in its updated statement: “Over the weekend we have been listening to, and heard, survivors of domestic abuse who have told us how devastating this has been for them.
“While we know the words were not Fiona’s own and were words she was legally obliged to read out, this does not lessen their impact and we cannot lose sight of that.
“These words minimised the seriousness of domestic abuse and this has been retraumatising for survivors.
“Survivors of domestic abuse are, and will always be, Refuge’s priority. Our focus must remain on them. Every two minutes someone turns to Refuge for help and our priority is the women and their children who need us.
“We have today accepted Fiona’s offer to stand down from her role as ambassador for Refuge. We have thanked her for her considerable contribution over many years to Refuge and the wider domestic abuse agenda.”
According to the BBC, Bruce said her words had been "mischaracterised” but that she had resigned from the charity so the issue would not create a “distraction”.
“I have been a passionate advocate and campaigner for all survivors of domestic abuse, and have used my privileged position as a woman in the public eye to bring this issue to the fore, notably in my work for over 25 years with Refuge,” she said.
“But following the events of last week, I have faced a social media storm, much of which mischaracterised what I said and took the form of personal abuse directed at me.
“The only people that matter in all this are the survivors, they are my priority. The last thing in the world that I would want is that this issue in any way creates a distraction from Refuge's critical work on their behalf, and therefore I think the right thing to do is to step back from my role with Refuge.”
Women’s Aid: Bruce’s comment ‘unnecessary and irresponsible’
Women’s Aid told Civil Society News it was supportive of Bruce’s decision to stand down.
In a statement last week, Women’s Aid chief executive Farah Nazeer said Bruce’s “one off” comment “was unnecessary and irresponsible”.
“Even if abuse is an isolated event, it would have still been domestic abuse, and this should never be minimised,” she said.
“We are particularly surprised to hear this comment from Fiona Bruce, who has previously campaigned against domestic abuse with us at Women’s Aid and other domestic abuse charities, and has spoken publicly about her friend’s experience of abuse.
“Question Time is a flagship BBC programme and carries with it authority over the narrative. The narrative that domestic abuse can be dismissed as a one-off is harmful, and influences how seriously the public take domestic abuse.”
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