Actor from that thing, you know, that thing that was on TV that one time, Matthew Newton, has given his first “unmedicated interview” to 60 Minutes since completing a 90-day rehabilitation program at The Betty Ford Clinic in Palm Springs, USA, where he has been living since his most recent arrest(s) in Miami last year.
Completely unbeknownst to his family – which is something of a surprise considering his parents Bert and Patti are akin to television royalty, especially on the Nine Network – Newton artfully dodges the questions addressed to him by Liz Hayes about the assault of his two former high-profile “lovers” (that word bums me out) Rachael Taylor and Brook Satchwell, incidents that he has previously attributed (while on Nine’s ACA) to the “loss of [his] mind,” and for which he had charges of assault overturned on the grounds of mental illness.
In the interview previews below, Newton ticks the requisite boxes of contrition (“I’m completely at fault for any harm that I’ve ever done. I have to take that responsibility,”) and reveals that for the first time he hasn’t “come with an agenda. I have come with an agenda before.”
When asked where his violence comes from (the same violence that saw him inflict on Rachael Taylor a sustained concussion, sprained jaw and bruising) he responds:
“I don’t know if i would call it violence. For me, if you’re asking what makes me lose control in any way I would say the feeling that I’m about to die. It feels like a wave of terror. A wave of hopelessness, and that’s when I end up running out of options. I don’t know what to do.”
“It’s not just anger?”
“No, no not at all.”
Newton’s interview with 60 Minutes airs tonight on Channel 9 at 7:30pm AEDST. Just for the record, you do have other options, programming and otherwise.
As they say on the Internet these days: “No stars ever.”
If you need immediate assistance regarding mental health or mental illness, you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, SANE Australia on 1800 18 7263, beyondblue on 1300 22 4636 or call MensLine Australia on 1300 78 99 78.
via The Herald Sun and MamaMia
