Cassie’s harrowing testimony, the myth of ‘mutual abuse’ and what domestic violence really looks like

“Domestic violence, we are absolutely admitting that,” Combs’ lead attorney Marc Agnifilo said, but added that it was “mutually violent.” Combs’ legal team grilled Ventura Fine on May 16 on what lawyers have called her own history of domestic violence.

Sexual violence experts, however, argue that claims of “mutual abuse” are a tactic used to shift blame away from the perpetrator, undermine power imbalances that facilitate domestic violence, and further the harmful stereotype of the “perfect victim.”

“It’s one person taking control over the other person and stripping them of their autonomy and stripping them of their independence,” says sociologist Nicole Bedera. “That’s not something that can be done mutually.” Link to full story here.