NEW YORK CITY -- This is just like the Chris Brown-Rhianna situation, but the gender roles are reversed: the abuser (in this case, Kelly Bensimon) is blaming the victim (in this case, Nicholas Stefanov) for the abuser's actions.
The lawyer for Kelly Killoren Bensimon - one of "The Real Housewives of New York City" - says her jilted beau was responsible for the lovers' quarrel that landed the reality star in court.
"I can't believe the guy went to the police," defense attorney Ed Hayes said Tuesday. "It is very, very mean-spirited. It's not like she's in his apartment. He's in her apartment."
Hayes said there was a break-up between Bensimon and Nicholas Stefanov, followed by a scuffle in her Manhattan apartment when he refused to leave.
"It's the reverse of a jilted girlfriend," Hayes said after a brief court appearance. "He's a rejected boyfriend."
While prosecutors asked for an extension of an order of protection for Stefanov, Hayes charged the ex-boyfriend was sending Bensimon threatening e-mails.
"I'm going to make your life misery," read one of the missives cited by Hayes.
Bensimon, 40, the ex-wife of famous fashion photographer Giles Bensimon, was dressed in black from head to toe for her courtroom appearance. The case was put off until June 8.
The mother of two girls was accused of punching 30-year-old Stefanov in the face, causing lacerations below the left eye and "substantial pain," according to a complaint he filed with police.
"I'm devastated my girls and I have to go through something like this," said Bensimon, sporting a gold watch and diamond stud earrings. "They don't need to be exposed to something like this."
Bensimon, a model and editor, was confident the case would be resolved in her favor. "The only time I'll ever be here again is for jury duty," she said.
She could face up to a year behind bars if convicted.
So Ms. Bensimon says that she's "devastated" that she and her daughters have to go through something like this? I call bullshit on that. She is NOT devastated that she and her daughters have to go through the legal proceedings. The ONLY thing Ms. Bensimon is "devastated" about is that she got jailed for abusing her boyfriend repeatedly.
Then, Mr. Hayes, her attorney, couldn't believe that Mr. Stefanov went to the police and called Mr. Stefanov's actions as "mean-spirited"? Again, that is bullshit. The ONLY thing I found that was mean-spirited was Mr. Hayes remarks. In fact, Mr. Hayes remarks were absolutely callous.
Then, Mr. Hayes shows his true colors by slandering Mr. Stefanov. Mr. Hayes claimed that Mr. Stefanov sent threatening e-mails towards Ms. Bensimon, Mr. Hayes's client.
I wish that the prosecutors would have pushed for a ten-year jail term for Ms. Bensimon and send a message that domestic violence will not be tolerated. Even if Ms. Bensimon is convicted and jailed for one year, it will still be a major injustice for male victims of domestic violence.
Ms. Bensimon and Mr. Hayes are sorry excuses for human beings. They would rather engage in callous victim-blaming instead of trying to resolve the charges against her. They would rather slander Mr. Stefanov instead of taking responsibility for her abusive ways.
It is time to send a message to the media that enough is enough!
Contact these media outlets and tell them to stop blaming Nicholas Stefanov for this incident! Also tell these outlets to stop giving Kelly Bensimon a free pass for her abusive ways!
New York Daily News: 1-212-210-2100
CNN: http://www.cnn.com/feedback/
New York Times: 1-888-NYT-NEWS or thearts@nytimes.com
New York Post: Steve Cuozzo, Mike Shain, Richard Johnson or 1-212-930-8000
Wall Street Journal, The: 1-212-416-2000
Associated Press: 1-212-621-1500
Fox News: http://www.foxnews.com
NBC: TODAY -- also tell them to condemn Al Roker's remarks.
CBS: http://www.cbsnews.com
Disney: Contact Good Morning America
Also, please take action and demand that NBC and Bravo remove Kelly Bensimon from the Real Housewives of New York City.