Lorena Bobbitt, 15 Years Later
It was the cut heard round the world.
Exactly 15 years ago this week the world first heard the story of John Wayne and Lorena Bobbitt. John Wayne, an ex-Marine, was accused of coming home drunk and raping his wife. Lorena was accused of retaliating by cutting off her husband's penis while he was asleep.
Lorena went from anonymous to notorious - her story the subject of countless newspaper and magazine articles. Now in her first ever network morning show interview she discusses how she's using her notoriety to help others.
"All of a sudden, my private life is out in the open and it's an open book and a lot of people know my history," she told The Early Show "Sometimes I couldn't even go to the grocery store to buy food because I would be recognized."
Today, the once shy native of Ecuador who barely spoke English is a confident 39-year-old who works as a real estate agent and next month gets her hairdressing license.
"My self esteem is a lot better than it was years ago. I grew a lot," she said. "I learned to cope with this. I cannot have myself with a blanket over my head and not to live, might as well go into the mountains and forget everybody. I had to make a choice so I just said 'Hey, I have to keep going, this is my life.'"
Lorena is now a mother to two-and-a-half-year-old Olivia - and in case you're wondering, yes, there is a man - fianc? Dave Bellinger.
"We've been together for 14 years and he's just wonderful," she said. "He's my best friend and he is a good father. Before, when I was young, when I was married, I was really na?ve and young, I didn't know what I wanted."
While Lorena has stayed out of the spotlight since a jury found her not guilty by reason of temporary insanity - ex husband John Wayne has sought it out - making numerous TV appearances and starring in several highly publicized adult films.
"That kind of did bother me that he was, you know, going up and trying to make money off a tragedy and you know that was a tragedy. I mean if he doesn't consider it a tragedy then he's wrong," she said.
John Wayne has also had several brushes with the law including a 2003 domestic violence conviction.
"I hope that he's definitely seeking help. If he needs help because he does need help, you know, he keeps on abusing women and I'm working on my goal and I'm trying to focus on my life and I do have a new life," she said.
The focus of her new life is Lorena's Red Wagon - an organization which provides funds to abused women in shelters who seek mental health counseling.
"They've gone through a lot, and I know that," she said. "Who knows that better than me?"
She hopes one day to open her own shelter and prevent women from making the same mistakes she did.
"Don't ever take the law into your own hands. No, never," she said. "Because take that from me, that's the advice that I give, don't take the law into your hands - it's not good."
Lorena and John Wayne Bobbitt divorced in 1995 after six years of marriage. She said that she hasn't spoken to him since.
Copyright 2009 CBS. All rights reserved. Exactly 15 years ago this week the world first heard the story of John Wayne and Lorena Bobbitt. John Wayne, an ex-Marine, was accused of coming home drunk and raping his wife. Lorena was accused of retaliating by cutting off her husband's penis while he was asleep.
Lorena went from anonymous to notorious - her story the subject of countless newspaper and magazine articles. Now in her first ever network morning show interview she discusses how she's using her notoriety to help others.
"All of a sudden, my private life is out in the open and it's an open book and a lot of people know my history," she told The Early Show "Sometimes I couldn't even go to the grocery store to buy food because I would be recognized."
Today, the once shy native of Ecuador who barely spoke English is a confident 39-year-old who works as a real estate agent and next month gets her hairdressing license.
"My self esteem is a lot better than it was years ago. I grew a lot," she said. "I learned to cope with this. I cannot have myself with a blanket over my head and not to live, might as well go into the mountains and forget everybody. I had to make a choice so I just said 'Hey, I have to keep going, this is my life.'"
Lorena is now a mother to two-and-a-half-year-old Olivia - and in case you're wondering, yes, there is a man - fianc? Dave Bellinger.
"We've been together for 14 years and he's just wonderful," she said. "He's my best friend and he is a good father. Before, when I was young, when I was married, I was really na?ve and young, I didn't know what I wanted."
While Lorena has stayed out of the spotlight since a jury found her not guilty by reason of temporary insanity - ex husband John Wayne has sought it out - making numerous TV appearances and starring in several highly publicized adult films.
"That kind of did bother me that he was, you know, going up and trying to make money off a tragedy and you know that was a tragedy. I mean if he doesn't consider it a tragedy then he's wrong," she said.
John Wayne has also had several brushes with the law including a 2003 domestic violence conviction.
"I hope that he's definitely seeking help. If he needs help because he does need help, you know, he keeps on abusing women and I'm working on my goal and I'm trying to focus on my life and I do have a new life," she said.
The focus of her new life is Lorena's Red Wagon - an organization which provides funds to abused women in shelters who seek mental health counseling.
"They've gone through a lot, and I know that," she said. "Who knows that better than me?"
She hopes one day to open her own shelter and prevent women from making the same mistakes she did.
"Don't ever take the law into your own hands. No, never," she said. "Because take that from me, that's the advice that I give, don't take the law into your hands - it's not good."
Lorena and John Wayne Bobbitt divorced in 1995 after six years of marriage. She said that she hasn't spoken to him since.
- How to stop junk mail - forever
- Dad Punishes Daughter with Free Babysitter Ad Play Video
- Best Low-Tech Cell Phones Suitable for Seniors
- Legit Work-from-Home Websites - and the Scams
- Five-Year-Old Arrested Play Video
- Best Wheeled-Luggage for Your Budget
- PickleBall Play Video
- Lidia Bastianich's Spaghetti And Meatballs
Later of course Julia Chen of course does the oh so funny piece on "The Talk" about Catherine Kieu Becker who cut her husbands ***** off.
If she was in an abusive relationship, which is an unproven claim, then just leave, file a restraining order. Nothing was stopping her from just leaving and filing a lawsuit against him if she like. But attempted manslaughter isn't the answer.
What is it with her and scissors???
I can''t believe ANY man could lay next to this woman at night and close his eyes! Good luck to her new husband... hope this works out well for you!!!
the post-event mechanics of this thing?
Did she hand it back to him?
I''ve heard of having your a,ss handed back
to you , , , ,
Was it just a funny rumor that she threw
it out the window?
Was he outside rummaging through the foliage?
"Hey, Buddy, did you see **** go by about
this long and like so wide"
"So that''s what it was!? I slipped on that
damm thing!!
Here kicked ''er down this grating here.
You can just make it out against the
beer can. , , Gotta run, catch me a bus!
Good luck!, Dude!"
lol relax you stupid hypocrites. Think, how many illegal things have you done when no one was watching, or when the woman was drunk that you took advantage of. Youre a hypocrite, youre a hypocrite, youre a hypocrite...
Interestingly enough, should CBS news report on D*i*ck Cheney, there isn''t a need to avoid his first name. Nor, when Ann Coulter refers to John Edwards as a fa*gg*ot, no need to censor there. Bloogers well, even the faux term a*z*zhole is now censurable. Pathetic.
More proof how our court system panders to women.
Posted by shanev137
Maybe you should be repeatedly raped to help you get it.
He should be in jail right now for repeatedly raping women. Amazing how our court system panders to men.