╌>

Lorena Bobbitt's violent act became a joke, missing chance to focus on the cause, she says

  

Category:  Op/Ed

Via:  perrie-halpern  •  5 years ago  •  20 comments

Lorena Bobbitt's violent act became a joke, missing chance to focus on the cause, she says
Bobbitt, who cut off her husband's penis in 1993, said she had suffered domestic abuse and then was "victimized again by the media" and society.

S E E D E D   C O N T E N T



By   Doha Madani

More than a quarter of a century ago, Lorena Bobbitt's name became synonymous with a gruesome act that turned into an uncomfortable joke.

She says now that the nation missed an opportunity at the time to look at what she calls a "social epidemic," the scourge of domestic violence.

Bobbitt, who was an immigrant from Venezuela, cut off her husband’s penis with a 12-inch knife in 1993 and tossed it into a field in Virginia where they lived.

Bobbitt, who now goes by her maiden name Gallo, spoke to "Today" in an exclusive television interview airing Friday ahead of the premiere of a   four-part documentary series   executive produced by Jordan Peele, which reframes her story in light of the #MeToo movement 25 years later.

She was charged with “malicious wounding” and put on trial. She claimed that her then-husband, John Wayne Bobbitt, spent years abusing her physically, emotionally and sexually before she attacked him.

He denied the allegations of abuse. The jury found her not guilty by reason of temporary insanity.

Bobbitt's story led to late-night TV jokes and tabloid fodder.

She told "Today" the public focused on the act she committed rather than the abuse she allegedly suffered.

"People actually miss the opportunity, not only to talk about the serious issue but about how a victim is already a victim of abuse or horrendous abuse," Bobbitt said Friday. "And then I go to be victimized again by the media and, us, society. So it was very difficult."

Now, 26 years later, she has a longtime partner and a 13-year-old daughter.

She said that through therapy and the help of her partner, she has been able to deal with her past notoriety.

Bobbitt said she told her daughter about what happened to her, in part, to prepare her for the documentary, "Lorena," when it screened at the Sundance Film Festival in January.

"She said, 'Mom, I didn't realize how strong you are,'" Bobbitt told "Today."

Bobbitt founded the Lorena Gallo Foundation in 2008 as way to help and advocate for survivors of domestic violence. She told "Today" that working in women's shelters helped her heal and adjust back to a normal life after her trial.

"The more I wanted to talk, the more I felt that I wanted to connect with women, that I felt that I wasn't alone," Bobbitt said.

She said she was happy that the #MeToo movement has elevated the voices of women and destigmatized the trauma of survivors. She also feels excited about a new wave of women in Congress who may be able to help close gaps in domestic violence laws to better protect women suffering abuse.

"We have come a long way," she said. "But there is a lot, much more, to be done."

NBC News reached out to her former husband, John Wayne Bobbitt, who declined to comment.


Tags

jrDiscussion - desc
[]
 
Buzz of the Orient
Professor Expert
1  Buzz of the Orient    5 years ago

Although the facts aren't the same, the notoriety is similar to that of a famous murder case in the city in which I grew up when a woman named Evelyn Dick was on trial for murdering her husband, having cut off his head, his arms and his legs from his torso.  I was only 9 years old and I will never forget the schoolyard song we used to sing, which is reported here:

The case of Evelyn Dick has been retold, dramatized and immortalized in popular culture.  A well known school yard song, (with a double entendre) at the time of the trial went:

You cut off his legs…

You cut off his arms…

You cut off his head…

How could you Mrs Dick?

How could you Mrs Dick?

Mrs. Bobbitt did not miss her husband's dick.

 
 
 
Studiusbagus
Sophomore Quiet
2  Studiusbagus    5 years ago

Okay, waaaaiiit a minute.

I remember this well. Yes, the jokes ran wild. I even had a "Bobbit stopper" which was an 8" aluminum tube when you open the box.

She also brought on some scorn herself. I watched as this unfolded and she was found not guilty by reason...for a reason.

I'm also sure hubby's not feeling the joke either...by now his 15 minutes is long deflated along with his porn money and his little buddy.

They both played the media and the general public. Her by playing the victim for her over the top revenge for his childish self centered treatment of a marriage. 

She could have just left...but that was not enough...she was pissed off.

Now, two idiots aren't dead, but they don't have their life anymore.

 
 
 
igknorantzrulz
PhD Quiet
2.1  igknorantzrulz  replied to  Studiusbagus @2    5 years ago
She could have just left...but that was not enough...she was pissed off.

i wonder if she was still p;issed

on, all the way to that field.

i pretty much remember both cashing in on this, but that was many brain cells ago, and after reading this piece, i feel i should refrain from referencing them, as i still do on occasion, but possibly, not okcasion.

i don't know, should i unlock the silver drawer at night again...she says she just wants ta spoon, but what's with the spork, not that i give a Fork, unless,

it cuts like a knife.

 
 
 
Studiusbagus
Sophomore Quiet
2.1.1  Studiusbagus  replied to  igknorantzrulz @2.1    5 years ago
feel i should refrain from referencing them, as i still do on occasion, but possibly, not okcasion.

I see what you did there...very clever!

 
 
 
Perrie Halpern R.A.
Professor Principal
2.2  seeder  Perrie Halpern R.A.  replied to  Studiusbagus @2    5 years ago

Have to agree with that. Time has rewritten some of this. 

 
 
 
Jeremy Retired in NC
Professor Expert
3  Jeremy Retired in NC    5 years ago

Somebody is looking for another 15 minutes in the spotlight.  I wonder if she EVER stopped to think about WHY people made jokes about what she did.  I'm pretty sure she hasn't.  

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
5  JohnRussell    5 years ago

20/20 had a two hour show about the 25th anniversary of this groundbreaking event a few weeks ago. Both these two people had or have some "issues", but John seems much more of a head case. Neither of them was guiltless in the mutual psychological abuse that led to the cutting off of the natural expressions of affection.

 
 
 
Tacos!
Professor Guide
7  Tacos!    5 years ago

I think the real story is they were actually able to reattach the thing and he ended up doing porn. Let's hear it for modern medicine, amiright? High five! 

d4ed46735e8c9803f08b52d7ac0c9dbe.jpg

P.S.: I didn't make that meme. I found it with the "Tacos!!" balloons already there. God bless the internet.

 
 
 
Ender
Professor Principal
7.1  Ender  replied to  Tacos! @7    5 years ago

Haha. 

Two exclamation points though.

 
 
 
Split Personality
Professor Guide
7.2  Split Personality  replied to  Tacos! @7    5 years ago

No, it'a AMAZING that some one found it.

Without that, John's no porn star...

 
 
 
Perrie Halpern R.A.
Professor Principal
7.2.1  seeder  Perrie Halpern R.A.  replied to  Split Personality @7.2    5 years ago

I forgot he was a porn star. What I remembered that she said that it was her "culture " to cut off his best bud, when you find out that your hubby is cheating. Am I wrong?

 
 
 
Ender
Professor Principal
8  Ender    5 years ago
she has a longtime partner

He is brave.

 
 
 
Tacos!
Professor Guide
8.1  Tacos!  replied to  Ender @8    5 years ago

Better go to sleep in titanium pajamas.

 
 
 
Buzz of the Orient
Professor Expert
8.2  Buzz of the Orient  replied to  Ender @8    5 years ago
"He is brave."

That could qualify as the understatement of the year.  LOL

 
 
 
pat wilson
Professor Participates
9  pat wilson    5 years ago

She and Monica Lewinsky just need to go away.

 
 
 
Perrie Halpern R.A.
Professor Principal
9.1  seeder  Perrie Halpern R.A.  replied to  pat wilson @9    5 years ago

Gotta agree with ya Pat. Yadda, Yadda, Yadda.. it's not about me........ but it is. 

 
 
 
Studiusbagus
Sophomore Quiet
9.1.1  Studiusbagus  replied to  Perrie Halpern R.A. @9.1    5 years ago

About time for the other ones to start surfacing,  Paula?

 
 

Who is online




72 visitors