Joy Division and New Order bassist Peter Hook has caused quite a reaction with the revelation that he was an 'abused husband'.
The Manchester music legend reveals details of his marriage to comedian Caroline Aherne in his new autobiography - and it's an unflinching, and at times uncomfortable, read.
He says that when his ex-wife Caroline died in July, after a third battle with cancer, he 'couldn't in all good conscience' join in with the tributes to the Mrs Merton and Royle Family star.
Hook says he spiralled into clinical depression after he became an 'abused husband', claiming he suffered physical and mental abuse from Aherne.
Describing the start of the violent incidents, Hook writes: “She attacked me, using her nails to scratch at my neck, tearing off my necklace and ripping my top. It was proper shocking stuff."
"And although she was really contrite the next morning it marked the beginning of some serious screaming-banshee behaviour - putting cigarettes out on my arm, attacking me with bottles, knives, chairs and other assorted furniture.
He writes: “I was an abused husband and it’s embarrassing, and you feel ashamed, and you can’t tell anyone. I needed help.”
The revelation sparked a massive reaction when we published it last night, with social media debates about the rights and wrongs of revealing details about the personal life of a recently-departed celebrity - and the attitude of society to male victims of domestic violence and abuse.
Hayley Marie Newton wrote on Facebook: "A little inappropriate to publish this when she is dead and gone and not here to defend herself. I for one would boycott this purely for his lack of tact and sensitivity.
"I totally get that he may feel he has a right to tell his side of the story but there's a time, place and method and he has considered neither. Surely this would have been better discussed with a counsellor rather than the public."
And Mike McDonagh added: "It was no secret that she suffered from depression, she told the world she had done things she was not proud of. Let those who have died, die in peace with themselves and stop stirring up things that can not be answered or defended.
Ann Carson said: "Why now? If you have no respect for Caroline's memory, at least show some for her family. I remember some of the upset being in the press at the time. I think that was partly the reason she went Australia. Caroline was a genius but above all she was human."
And Nicola Barnes said: "And he chooses now to tell us? Why not when she was alive then she could defend herself?"
But many others said this reaction is part of the problem facing male victims of abusive relationships.
June Reece wrote: "Is it any wonder male victims don't speak out when this is the reaction....I don't/didnt know either of them and only they know the truth but it's sad to see people's reactions to this story....unless you have lived with abuse, you will never understand."
Lea Pearce said: "Would you all still be defending her if she was a man and he was a woman. Or would you assume she was just too scared to say while he was alive and feel sympathy for her? Amazing how much attitudes change and sympathy isn't given when it's a man that gets abused."
Joe Butler wrote: "So many hypocrites on here. Calling this man every name under the sun because he's spoken out about a woman.
"If this was a woman speaking out about her dead husband a lot of you would be singing a different song. No wonder violence and abuse against men is swept under the carpet and not taken seriously. You all might as well come out and say it, men can suffer in silence because only women will be taken seriously."
And Clare Devine defended the way Hook had made the revelation. She said: "If Peter Hook were just a regular member of a public then you could say he was cashing in by revealing this information. He's not - he was famous in his own right before her and was already writing his book before she sadly passed away.
"It happened and he has every right to share it. If it were the other way round, no-one would be complaining. She was much-loved and a comic genius but we have to accept that people have flaws and aren't the people we like to think they are."
Adrianh Leighton-Lawlor wrote: "Abuse is abuse! On a man or a women. Doesn't matter if the offender is dead or alive. I am a survivor of an abusive relationship, and reading the small bits in the article, I believe him."
And Amanda Murphy said: "He was writing the book when she died. It's not like he heard she died and then saw pound signs.
"Also if you know anything of Manchesters music scence and the Hacienda days, you will know he didn't need to mention her name to sell the book, he was making money from it irrespective of her involvement.
"To suggest he is speaking about the abuse he suffered to make money is as disgusting and the comments suggesting he should keep his abuse private. If he was a female there would be uproar...
"Don't think for one minute her family didn't know she had a darker side of her personality. They know she was human and that level of humour she was gifted with often comes from some form of pain or grief.
"She had cancer from a very early age and knew even though she was married she would never feel complete in that role as she would never have children. Don't tell me that didn't torture her because I won't believe it."
'Soviet' wrote on the Manchester Evening News website: "There's always two sides and sadly we'll probably only get to hear Peter's but Caroline had admitted to (and was widely reported as) having addiction and health problems.
"It would be a shame if Peter's book fails to cover how he may also have failed in their relationship - people can be troubled but often their partners can be the catalyst for a meltdown...but lets not let the celebrity status of the late great CA also prevent Peter from saying what he needs to...he has that right."
MEN
To be honest he'd most probably already written this before her death. Should he have pulled a whole chapter out of respect? Did he include it because she's not here to contest his picture of events? Is it all bollocks? Who knows?
