Business Name Cops Huge Backlash

The owner of a fish and chip shop denies accusations she condones domestic violence amid a backlash over her business name.

Carolyn Kerr said she chose the name ‘The Battered Wife ‘- and her slogan ‘The only battering anyone need know’ – more than a year ago to raise awareness of violence against women, not promote it.

The Queensland business owner said she witnessed the horrors of abuse when she was a police officer and wanted to take a stand, reports 9 news.

battered wife 2

“There is a lot of beautiful intelligent women out there, really bad situations, and to assume that I was making light of the subject, that I was promoting it [domestic violence] … The way it was misconstrued is quite offensive,” Ms Kerr told Today this morning.

She continued: “No-one seems to be standing up for it [speaking out about domestic violence]. This is my little way of just digging my heels in a little bit and saying, ‘enough is enough’.

“Our local shelter in Innisfail here, I have been told it has had their funding virtually cut off in this financial budget. Down in south-east Queensland, Brisbane, the cities and all the rest of it, there is a lot of choices … Up here there is virtually nothing, virtually nothing. It is so difficult.”

The name was a “play on words” because, as a fish and chip shop owner, she “makes good batter”.

“Originally it was suggested to me as a little bit of a joke. It seemed like something with a bit of spark that could provoke questions but also the play on words the shop itself being a fish and chip shop ,” she told Today.

“Even though it’s a fish and chip shop, first and foremost, ‘The Battered Wife’. I make good batter. I am married to my business.”

Ms Kerr has copped vicious online abuse over the name, with a barrage of Facebook posts describing it as “disgusting” and “trivialising domestic violence”.

Queensland politicians have also slammed the business owner.

Do you think it is offensive?

Share your comments below

22 Comments

- - ella12 said
  - 18 Jan 2019
    4:19 pm
She probably could have gone with a more suitable name.

- - mom74005 said
  - 06 Nov 2018
    9:09 pm
The brilliance of our Australian culture is diversity, it means people view things differently. I had to read this a couple of times and think it could be better. But I understand how it becomes a talking point.

- - sars_angelchik said
  - 06 Nov 2018
    8:59 am
I can see why people wouldn’t like this name- I didn’t like it the second I saw the picture. I understand that is not what she was getting at but I think it is still a poor choice of words for a slogan.

- - rovermum said
  - 05 Nov 2018
    8:55 am
Wow! My first thought was… that’s not okay. But when you understand the context and the additional writing on the window… it makes more sense. However, you need to see it all to understand the context. Such a shame when the owner is clearly wanting to support anti-domestic violence and support the local services for domestic violence victims.
- mom93821 replied
  
  06 Nov 2018 , 6:39 am
  Exactly! It is context and the additional information.
- - mom93821 said
  - 05 Nov 2018
    7:30 am
Clearly a poor decision as evidenced by the backlash.

- - tessie said
  - 04 Nov 2018
    11:06 am
Why are people complaining about the name now. The shop has been there for a year and no-one seemed to mind the name before.

- - Blossom said
  - 02 Nov 2018
    10:05 pm
Had she left “Wife” out of the business name it would have been ok as we know that fish can be battered via a recipe.
I’m surprised there wasn’t questions asked when the business name was registered with the appropriate Govt. Dept.

- - mom112217 said
  - 02 Nov 2018
    9:10 pm
I would probably chose a different name when you actually think about it.

- - littlehandsofmine said
  - 02 Nov 2018
    11:59 am
I didn’t think it was referring to domestic violence….

- - mom244079 said
  - 02 Nov 2018
    9:58 am
People in this world are becoming a pack of sooks and everything offends them. I am getting a bit sick and tired of it all. Stop being a pack of big sooks.
- mom19782016 replied
  
  05 Nov 2018 , 9:25 pm
  It’s getting to the point where you can’t open your mouth without offending someone. Having said that, I read the business’ name and had a bit of a laugh knowing that it was poking fun but not poking fun at the same time about a serious issue in Australia. Anything to raise awareness and keep it on the forefront of people’s thinking can’t be a bit thing really can it?
- - rachel1970 said
  - 02 Nov 2018
    7:30 am
The name is pretty clever actually, but in this day and age, it’s probably politically incorrect to use it and I can see how some would find it offensive.

- - Krusty said
  - 02 Nov 2018
    7:01 am
While I was growing up we used to call these Wog Shop’s because most were owned by immigrant’s,I think this name is quite clever.Cheer’s Krusty.

- - Aussieladee said
  - 01 Nov 2018
    10:12 pm
People need to chill out & stop being politically correct. This world is becoming so offended at everything & nothing that it won’t be long before people will be to scared to talk to other people with different views on life.

- - mom68673 said
  - 01 Nov 2018
    8:21 pm
No I dont find offensive. When I first read the business name. I literally thought that the batter they use is homemade from the wife. So it would of of be offensive about women being in the kitchen not about domestic violence..
I dont she is trying to promote DV in a bad way I think she is trying to create awareness. And even though there is bad negativity about her business name but in a way she is raising awareness of DV.

- - nealsq said
  - 01 Nov 2018
    8:18 pm
I love a laugh as much as the next person but I do think this one is in poor taste