Rula Lenska feels “vindicated” that Dennis Waterman has admitted hitting her.
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The 64-year-old actress is relieved that her former spouse – who she divorced in 1998 after 11 years of marriage – has finally admitted to punching her after previously vehemently denying her allegations.
The former Coronation Street actress is quoted by the Daily Mirror as telling a friend: “I’ve spent years being branded a liar because some people thought I had made it up. I now finally feel vindicated.”
During an interview for Piers Morgan’s Life Stories programme, Waterman claimed it is “not difficult” for a strong woman to “make a man hit her” and Rula’s agent has slammed his “shocking and wrong” comments.
The agent, Paul Pearson, said: “To suggest it’s OK to hit a woman just because she’s fiercely intelligent is shocking and wrong.
“Rula is struggling to digest what Dennis has said – she’s waited a very long time for him to admit what happened, so in many ways it is a huge relief.
“She’s pleased that Dennis has finally admitted what he did, but at the same time it’s all very upsetting. Rula has spent years living with this, while a huge number of people within the industry did not believe her, and she’s had to face that.
“Today is vindication from that – but it’s not a celebration, it’s shocking that Dennis has tried to defend the indefensible.”
The former Minder star’s comments have come under fire from domestic violence charities.
Refuge chief executive Sandra Horley CBE said: “I am appalled by Dennis Waterman’s comments about his violence towards Rula Lenska, which trivialise the abuse he inflicted on her.
“No one can make their partner hit them. However angry or frustrated Dennis felt, he could have chosen to deal with those feelings another way but he chose violence.
“He alone is responsible for his behaviour.”
