Comic helps teenagers spot abusive relationships

Comedian Maddy Anholt has become the ambassador for a website that helps teenagers learn about abusive relationships.

The stand-up, herself the survivor of toxic partners,  is to be the face of the Women’s Aid project  Love Respect.

She said: ‘We grew up with rose-tinted stories about non-consensual kisses with sleeping princesses and happy-ever-afters. So, when I fell into my first relationship at 15, I had no comprehension of the word "consent". No one told us about setting boundaries, understanding red flags, toxic love and controlling personality types. 

‘As I tumbled through controlling relationship after controlling relationship, it took me until the age of 30 to truly understand that what I had been through was domestic abuse. I saw first-hand that emotional scars are just as lasting and damaging as physical ones.  

‘Through my own journey of healing, I worked with many inspiring women, numerous of whom were at Women’s Aid, to help me understand what had happened and use my voice to help others. 

‘What I have found is there is still a vast gap of misunderstanding. Women’s Aid and Love Respect are setting about to ensure that, through raising awareness and education, that gap is closed. 

‘I am incredibly passionate about working with Women’s Aid to spread its clear and simple message that Love = Respect. Awareness will be our shield and together we can empower young women and gift them the strength to trust their voices, see their worth, know what is and what is not acceptable, and enjoy safe, happy and compassionate love.

Anholt is also writing a book about toxic relationships, entitled How To Leave Your Psychopath, which will be published in February. She said she found the means to 'wake up' to the toxic patterns of psychopathic personality types with help from an NHS crisis counsellor, then decided to educate herself about the  traits of narcissists and psychopaths, and to find out why she had been vulnerable to their allure. 

Farah Nazeer chief executive at Women’s Aid added: ‘Since the tragic death of Sarah Everard, a national conversation has begun on how society can work together to end the abuse and violence that girls and women endure daily. 

‘As a long-time supporter of our work and a tireless campaigner and activist, we are so pleased to welcome Maddy Anholt as our new Love Respect Ambassador. We offer our huge thanks to Maddy for her continued commitment to empowering survivors.

‘We are proud to be working together to raise awareness that abuse is not love and that girls and women deserve to expect respect.’

Published: 22 Apr 2021