Trigger warning: This article contains descriptions of domestic violence
Former Home and Away star Christie Hayes has bravely spoken out about her domestic violence experience.
The actor-turned-radio star, who rose to fame playing Kirsty Sutherland on the popular Channel 7 soap in the 2000s, revealed at age 15 she was in an abusive relationship with an older man.
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WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Christie Hayes speaks out about domestic violence.
Speaking on her radio show in response to the recently surfaced disturbing footage involving American rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, Hayes said she had only ever spoken to her mother about her situation.
Hayes, 37, said she was speaking up in the hope that it may help someone going through the same thing.
“I haven’t ever spoken about it on air; I’ve really (never) told anybody about it apart from my mum,” she said on her Hobart’s Hit100.9 show Dan & Christie For Breakfast.
“I was 15. I was on TV. Wherever I went, I would have people stare at me and whisper, ‘Oh, that’s Kirsty from Home and Away!’
“I remember being at the airport with a boyfriend, and he had gone through my bag, he’d gone through my stuff, and I had written a Christmas card to a co-star of mine — a guy who was on the show with me. I had said, ‘Hey, I love you. Merry Christmas. Have a great break.’
“He read the card, I hadn’t even got a word out of my mouth (before) he turned around and (hit me).”
“He hit me in the face so hard that I had almost a tooth missing, I was bleeding all down my mouth, and I remember shaking with embarrassment going, ‘Oh my god, what if someone saw that?’ I ran to the bathroom, and I started to cry.
“I was 15 when this happened. I was young, I was a little girl.”
The radio star said that she looks “back on that little girl and I just think, ‘I just want to protect her.’
“It’s still happening. It’s happening to little girls, it’s happening to grown women — we are being hit.
“We are sick and tired of it. I look back at the kid I was, and I wish I protected myself. I couldn’t protect myself.”
The video of the American rapper, first published by CNN, appears to depict Combs wearing only a white towel chasing his then partner, real name Cassie Ventura, and kicking her on the ground.
It then shows the US music mogul dragging Ventura, and throwing a vase in her direction.
Combs has since apologised for the actions seen in the confronting footage.
In a video statement posted to Instagram, Combs said his behaviour was “inexcusable” and that he was “disgusted” by it.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au.
In an emergency, call 000. Advice and counselling for men concerned about their use of family violence: Men’s Referral Service, 1300 766 491.