16 October 2013updated 07 Sep 2021 11:53am

Self-described “PR guru“ claims Saatchi abuse was a “publicity payoff“ for Nigella Lawson

"No one, whether a wife abuser or not, would engage is such prolonged, theatrical assault in public unless playing to an audience," apparently.

By Alex Hern

Richard Hillgrove

There’s always a tension between “expose people with dangerous views” and “don’t give people with dangerous views the oxygen of publicity”, but I think this one falls firmly in the former category based on the power and prestiege of the person in question. Below, in full, is a press release sent out by London-based PR firm Hillgrove. They’re no fly-by-night operation, as their list of clients shows; and as well as being sent out by their press office, the story was tweeted from their official twitter account. I can’t imagine it will be there for that much longer. We’re quoting in full partially to avoid accusations of cherry-picking, and partially because there are very few lines which aren’t completely astonishing:

CHARLES SAATCHI GAVE NIGELLA LAWSON A ‘PUBLICITY PAYOFF’ RATHER THAN CASH FOR DIVORCE – PR GURU

Charles Saatchi gave Nigella Lawson a “publicity pay off” rather than make any cash settlement for a divorce, according to PR guru Richard Hillgrove.

“Mr. Saatchi, who signed a prenup, was willing to humiliate himself in a global ‘domestic abuse’ scandal rather than settle any cash payment at the time of divorce”, says Hillgrove who has represented the PR for Duncan Bannatyne OBE, Simon Woodroffe OBE and James Caan.

“The notion that a paparazzi photographer would be allowed to stick a camera lens through the window of Scotts of Mayfair for over 30 minutes and photograph a ‘domestic attack’ made in full light of day with passing waiters, management and customers is preposterous,” says Hillgrove.

“Nigella Lawson was perfectly made up and perfectly in view of the pre-arranged camera”.

“Mr. Saatchi was well aware of the camera and also that he needed to stage something akin to Sir Anthony Hopkins in ‘Silence of the Lambs’ to gain media traction”.

“No one, whether a wife abuser or not, would engage is such prolonged, theatrical assault in public unless playing to an audience”, says Hillgrove.

“The result was a ‘publicity gift’ for Ms. Lawson, who is promoting her TV series in America”.

“The scenes of the predatory monster are virtually comical”.

“Mr. Saatchi countered the potential reputation damage with juxtaposing messages and statements to limit the damage post PR-sting”.

“Ms. Lawson had nothing to say afterwards because she didn’t wish to give the game away as opposed to being petrified and in hiding. Far from it”.

Backmasking PR attempts such as “I was getting snot from her nose … I wanted to fish it out” are pure genius as is the statement from Saatchi stating that “obviously I’m not enough for her”.

This created a paralysis in the media with the overall publicity effect being achieved, but no one ultimately knowing what to think nor who to blame.

Soon-to-be-divorced Nigella Lawson is to bring her US hit cookery contest ‘The Taste’ to the UK.

The chef and presenter will return to Channel 4 for the first time in a decade, with her shows appearing on BBC2 since 2006.