Talk show host slams audience for laughing at domestic abuse victim

Jeremy Kyle was not pleased with the audience's response to the abuse story. Photo / Youtube, The Jeremy Kyle Show

Viewers have slammed Jeremy Kyle Show audience members who laughed at a male domestic abuse victim who was forced to jump off a three-storey balcony to escape his violent girlfriend.

Father-of-two Geoff was on the show to confront his ex-girlfriend Danni over claims she had been cheating and abusive but was left shamed by the crowd in the Manchester studio.

He explained that on one occasion she apparently locked him in their flat and when he tried to leave he angrily pulled the door handle off, leaving him with no option but to leap from a balcony.

"I was stuck in a three-storey flat and had to jump off a three-storey balcony," he said.

"'I ripped all my arm open, all my back, my legs - the lot, and I ended up in hospital."

But the audience burst into laughter at his account of what happened - driving hundreds of people to take to social media to criticise their reaction.

"Laughing at victims of domestic abuse is completely appalling," one Reddit user posted.

Another said: "It sickens and saddens me that this man was laughed at over something serious like this."

One reader wrote: "The idea that they busted out in laughter is disgusting. And the fact they laughed after he talked about why and how he was hospitalised is f****** ridiculous."

I find it aggravating that a male Jeremy Kyle guest was laughed at for being forced to jump from a 3 floor balcony due to domestic violence

— Joe Lindo (@JoeLindsay4) May 14, 2015

The outburst forced host Kyle to defend his guest, telling the audience: "It's not funny, though is it?"

"Can I tell you why it's not funny - and I don't want to upset anyone in the audience because I completely appreciate the fact that you're here - but I'll tell you why I don't think you should laugh.

"If this was the other way around and if a woman was sat here and a bloke had locked her in a flat and she'd been forced to jump out and injure herself you would not be laughing.

"You would be saying he is a complete nightmare, he should be locked up and that's disgraceful but somehow if it happens to a bloke that's funny. That's not funny. That's not funny is it?"

The studio audience fell silent before bursting into a round of applause, despite being shamed by the host.

People on social media praised the host, with one Twitter user saying: "Thank you for standing up for male domestic violence victims. Pretty much nobody else ever does."

jeremy kyle did the right thing, his audience behaviour was disgusting. Male domestic violence is no laughing matter

— Richard Edwards ☕🇦🇺 (@richardmelb05) May 14, 2015

The programme ended with a DNA test, which proved Geoff was the father to Danni's two children and the pair agreed to put their differences behind them for the sake of their young family.

- Daily Mail