17/06/2013

Nigella Lawson Images Dismissed By Saatchi As 'Playful Tiff'

Images of art collector Charles Saatchi gripping his wife Nigella Lawsom by the throat have been dismissed as "a playful tiff", by Saatchi when he spoke to London's Evening Standard.

He reportedly told the newspaper: "The pictures are horrific but give a far more drastic and violent impression of what took place."

It is understood that the images, published by the Sunday People, were taken outside a restaurant in Mayfair in central London about a week ago.

Saatchi is quoted in Monday's Evening Standard as saying: "About a week ago, we were sitting outside a restaurant having an intense debate about the children, and I held Nigella's neck repeatedly while attempting to emphasise my point.

"There was no grip, it was a playful tiff.

"Nigella's tears were because we both hate arguing, not because she had been hurt.

"We had made up by the time we were home. The paparazzi were congregated outside our house after the story broke yesterday morning, so I told Nigella to take the kids off till the dust settled."

Ms Lawson Is yet to comment on the images of the circumstances surrounding them, and it is understood that police are investigating.

(MH/CD)

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