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As high-profile men accused of assault topple like a series of extremely sleazy dominos, it’s easy to imagine that a fall from grace can permanently change the landscape of a given profession.But folks, fear not, it’s another day, another reminder that we’re capable of embracing practically medical-grade amnesia when it comes to the histories of abusive men.Announced in a Facebook post, Tony Veitch—the New Zealand broadcaster also known for breaking his partner’s back in four places during a domestic assault—has won a much-coveted spot in television current affairs:“Hey guys .. I wanted to let you know .. I’ve decided to get back on TV with a new “issues” based show on SKY. This is what I’ve been waiting for .. a hard hitting, opinion led show that does not shy away from controversy,” he writes.“Hard-hitting” may be a particularly poor choice of words, but Veitch—affectionately known as Veitchy by his fans—isn’t renowned for showing a high degree of self-awareness when it comes to his abusive past.In 2015 he made a public Facebook post complaining about people "attacking me for my past and asking why so many 'losers' would follow my page."
"I have worked my ass off to re build my life and career and learn from what was a hideous relationship! I am now in the dream job and I'm happy again," he writes.Media reports and court documents can reveal more precisely what that “hideous relationship” consisted of: Veitch carried out an assault on his former partner so vicious that he broke her back in four places. A Fairfax Media report from the time records that Veitch “kicked his former lover as she lay on the floor of his bedroom. ‘He kicked her so hard he broke four vertebrae … She couldn't walk.’”
It was several hours before she was taken to a hospital. She remained in a wheelchair for some time. He then attempted to silence her with a $100,000 payment.In 2008, he was arrested and charged with six counts of assault and one of injuring with reckless intent. In a pre-trial settlement Veitch pleaded guilty to one charge of reckless disregard causing injury. The other charges were dropped, but Veitch was stood down as a broadcaster from Radio Sport and TVNZ.But fear not, time is a flat circle, and now Veitch is right back where he was. He notes in his most recent statement: “I’m so stoked to be back working with my fav presenter from my TVNZ day’s ..[sic] Bernie and Devlin, from our Game of Two Halves days.”A few short years after he faced charges, the Herald ran a feature on Veitch and his “long battle to reclaim his health and happiness”:“Tony Veitch had it all. A gorgeous new wife. A career as one of the country's top broadcasters. He had the fancy house, the fame, the fortune.
Then he lost it all. His job, his wife, almost his life.”Well, it’s all back now: a reality that must come as great comfort to other men currently accused of assaulting women.Only a few weeks back, as serial sex-offender Rene Naufahu began the very public process of rehabilitating his reputation, we wrote this:“While there's often much talk of sexual assault allegations bringing down prominent men, the reality is that those downfalls are often short-lived, and the cloud of disgrace can clear quickly. In Hollywood, Woody Allen and Roman Polanski remain enormously powerful, respected and successful figures in the industry, despite the numerous allegations that have been brought against them—and in Polanski's case, admitted to. The President of the United States holds one of the most powerful positions in the world, despite allegations against him from ten named, on-record women. Here in New Zealand, Tony Veitch has fully resuscitated his broadcast career after breaking his partner's back. Our collective memories relating to the the shame of sexual and gendered violence can be startlingly short.”We don’t yet know what will happen to the Weinsteins, the Louis CKs, the Kevin Spaceys, the Bill Cosbys of the world. Right now isn’t the moment, but eventually we’ll have to figure out how to answer what the hell do we do next with the many, many, many powerful men being revealed as abusive. At this point, it seems difficult to conceive of them ever working again, but those rehabilitation centres in the Swiss Alps must be getting awfully full. At some stage it seems likely they’ll start re-entering society, and the question becomes: what do we require of them? Is it some kind of penance, a modicum of self-awareness, some demonstrated remorse, a total retirement from public life?Or, as New Zealand women know so well, maybe all it takes is a half-apology, a few self-pitying Facebook posts, and a couple of years.Correction and clarification: a previous version of this story referenced Veitch's 'wife' who was at that point his partner. SKY has since released a statement that Veitch is a panelist, rather than host of the new show.
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"I have worked my ass off to re build my life and career and learn from what was a hideous relationship! I am now in the dream job and I'm happy again," he writes.Media reports and court documents can reveal more precisely what that “hideous relationship” consisted of: Veitch carried out an assault on his former partner so vicious that he broke her back in four places. A Fairfax Media report from the time records that Veitch “kicked his former lover as she lay on the floor of his bedroom. ‘He kicked her so hard he broke four vertebrae … She couldn't walk.’”
It was several hours before she was taken to a hospital. She remained in a wheelchair for some time. He then attempted to silence her with a $100,000 payment.In 2008, he was arrested and charged with six counts of assault and one of injuring with reckless intent. In a pre-trial settlement Veitch pleaded guilty to one charge of reckless disregard causing injury. The other charges were dropped, but Veitch was stood down as a broadcaster from Radio Sport and TVNZ.
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Then he lost it all. His job, his wife, almost his life.”Well, it’s all back now: a reality that must come as great comfort to other men currently accused of assaulting women.Only a few weeks back, as serial sex-offender Rene Naufahu began the very public process of rehabilitating his reputation, we wrote this:“While there's often much talk of sexual assault allegations bringing down prominent men, the reality is that those downfalls are often short-lived, and the cloud of disgrace can clear quickly. In Hollywood, Woody Allen and Roman Polanski remain enormously powerful, respected and successful figures in the industry, despite the numerous allegations that have been brought against them—and in Polanski's case, admitted to. The President of the United States holds one of the most powerful positions in the world, despite allegations against him from ten named, on-record women. Here in New Zealand, Tony Veitch has fully resuscitated his broadcast career after breaking his partner's back. Our collective memories relating to the the shame of sexual and gendered violence can be startlingly short.”We don’t yet know what will happen to the Weinsteins, the Louis CKs, the Kevin Spaceys, the Bill Cosbys of the world. Right now isn’t the moment, but eventually we’ll have to figure out how to answer what the hell do we do next with the many, many, many powerful men being revealed as abusive. At this point, it seems difficult to conceive of them ever working again, but those rehabilitation centres in the Swiss Alps must be getting awfully full. At some stage it seems likely they’ll start re-entering society, and the question becomes: what do we require of them? Is it some kind of penance, a modicum of self-awareness, some demonstrated remorse, a total retirement from public life?Or, as New Zealand women know so well, maybe all it takes is a half-apology, a few self-pitying Facebook posts, and a couple of years.Correction and clarification: a previous version of this story referenced Veitch's 'wife' who was at that point his partner. SKY has since released a statement that Veitch is a panelist, rather than host of the new show.