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Fish And Chip Shop To Close Following Backlash Over Controversial Name

Fish And Chip Shop To Close Following Backlash Over Controversial Name

The owner said she has been the victim of a 'witch hunt'

Jake Massey

Jake Massey

"Right, the chippy is all set up and good to go, all we need now is a name. One of those funny ones. Hmmm."

"How about The Cod Father?"

"... The Battered Wife?"

"PERFECT."

Fast forward from that imaginary brainstorming session and The Battered Wife is now closing down following a backlash the owner clearly didn't anticipate.

The chippy, in Innisfall, Australia, made headlines last year after pictures of a shop blackboard bearing the name above the message 'the only battering anyone need know' spread across the web.

In October, anti-violence group, The Red Heart Campaign, posted a message on the chippy's Facebook page that read: "We would like to send a huge fuck you to The Battered Wife Fish & Chip shop in Innisfail, Queensland.

"In a year where we have lost 67 women and 18 kids to murder and manslaughter, and while hundreds of thousands of women are being 'battered' by their partners across the country, these clowns thought it appropriate to make a joke out of domestic violence.

"There is nothing funny about domestic violence or violence against women. Please boycott this business - it does not deserve your money."

The Battered Wife Fish And Chips shop is closing down.
Facebook/The Battered Wife Fish And Chips

But owner, Carolyn Kerr, defended the name, claiming it was intended to raise awareness.

However, in a video shared on Facebook, Ms Kerr said the shop would cease trading next Monday as a result of the pressure put on her business by an 'abusive witch hunt'.

She said: "It is with deep, deep sadness that I inform you we will cease trading next week.

"As many of you know I've been the subject of an abusive witch hunt by a not-for-profit organisation who are 'anti-abuse'.

"However, they've threatened to throw bricks through my window, they've complained to ASIC [Australian Securities and Investments Commission] to have my business name revoked.

"Then they complained to Industrial Relations and Child Protective Services ... saying that I was employing kids and I was participating in child exploitation."

The Red Campaign has since denied responsibility for the fish and chip shop's closure.

In a post on their Facebook page, founder Sherele Moody said: "The Red Heart Campaign is in no way responsible for the closure of the Battered Wife Fish and Chip Shop.

"Last year, we made one post questioning why someone thought to choose a name that clearly mocks domestic violence survivors.

"We were not the only organisation to do this, with the name being questioned by multiple domestic violence support services, including the ones servicing the region where the shop is located.

"The Red Heart Campaign has not reported the business to any authorities and we have not encouraged anyone connected to us to harass or threaten the business or owner."

A supporter of the chippy has since set up a GoFundMe page in a bid to help Ms Kerr keep her shop open, raising $3,000 AUD (£1,650) so far.

Featured Image Credit: Facebook/The Battered Wife Fish And Chips

Topics: Food, News