In case you thought Wayne Carey couldn't get any shitter, and if you figured New Idea wouldn't stoop any lower than, you know, opening the third-in-line for the throne up for a grenade to the head, think again!

It seems New Idea think that the best way to rehabilitate blokes who allegedly bash their partners is to hand them a sweaty wad of cash and get them to talk about feelings while their partner sits at their side like some Tammy Wynnette song writ large.

New Idea reportedly paid $180,000 to Carey and his girlfriend Kate Neilson for an interview in which they discuss drug abuse and their tumultuous relationship.

Women's Domestic Violence Crisis Service board member Jane Ashton lashed out at the payment.

"If they're paying for a story based on someone beating up somebody else it's sleazy and it goes back to the fact that most people think that it's not criminal," she said.

"It undermines all these people who work in family violence who are trying to reassure women that it's not normal and it is criminal."

...

The magazine last November launched a massive campaign - endorsed by celebrities including Nicole Kidman - denouncing family violence.

Good PR move, New Idea!

Look, we know celebrities - especially celebrities gone wild - sell magazines, but surely they could've just interviewed Neilson? They still could've used the phrase "WAYNE CAREY" on the cover, which presumably would make all the vultures who think they'll never (allegedly) get a champagne glass to the face in a Miami restaurant happy to drool over someone else's misery.

 

Tags: au | future walkley award winners | kate neilson | new idea | wayne carey | women's magazines