A man like Ben Cousins has no place on Dancing With The Stars

Imagine being Maylea Tinecheff, former partner of Ben Cousins and seeing your ex-stalker glorified on television in his new role as a Dancing With The Stars recruit. Imagine how re-traumatising it would be to witness the nation fall in love with your abuser, imagine how that would feel for every domestic violence survivor and for the families of those who have lost loved ones to DV situations.

That’s exactly what is coming to a TV screen near you and it's increasingly harder to blindly accept this as a recurring TV narrative. Ben Cousins's appearance on Dancing With The Stars raises important questions about redemption, public perception, and the responsibility of media platforms.

The decision to feature Cousins, a former AFL star, with criminal convictions, on a national stage like this, deserves critical examination, especially in light of an evolving understanding of abuse and the psychological impact it has on survivors.

RELATED:

• Chris Brown's brutal swipe at Channel 10 in Dancing With The Stars premiere

• Dancing With The Stars favourite reveals secret pre-show injury: 'Pretty bad'

• Disgraced AFL player Ben Cousins convicted of stalking ex-partner

In 2019 the former AFL player, who had been hailed as a "prince" of the game, pleaded guilty to numerous offences, including aggravated stalking of his ex-partner Tinecheff, who is the mother of his children, breaching a violence restraining order she had out against him and drug possession.

During his criminal trial, Tinecheff detailed a number of threats Cousins made against her including threatening to kill her and several instances of abuse where the safety of his family was compromised. His extensive drug history obviously played a significant part.

He received a maximum 12-month sentence, but only spent about half that time behind bars.

Despite his convictions and history of drug abuse, these days he’s back on our screens as a sports presenter on Channel 7 and being positioned as a clean-cut, improved version of the AFL player the nation once loved to love.

Aussies are keen to forgive celebrities

Australia, like many countries, has a complex relationship with celebrity culture, often veering towards the sensational and forgiving when it comes to high-profile individuals who have broken the law.

The treatment of Schapelle Corby, also a former Dancing With The Stars alum, and various contestants on SAS Australia highlights a tendency to not just forgive but to actively embrace those who have been through the judicial system.

While rehabilitation is a noble goal, the way certain individuals are elevated to celebrity status post-conviction is problematic.

In a nation abundant with untapped talent, the recycling of troubled stars onto pedestals is disheartening. It almost seems like being troubled can be good for your career.

The allure of a headline-grabbing comeback story seems a tried and tested recipe for ratings. TV executives will often say behind closed doors that wholesome people are too "vanilla" for their networks, but maybe that’s the critical change we need to see.

Featuring Cousins sends a message to victims

If I’m completely wrong and Ben is in fact redeemed, then I applaud our justice system and its ability to rehabilitate the wrongdoer. That is, after all, its purpose. Once individuals have served their time, they should, in most instances, have the opportunity to reintegrate into society and rebuild their lives.

However, granting them a prominent public platform like Dancing With The Stars raises ethical questions about the messages being sent to the broader community, particularly to victims of their past actions, and others in their category.

Threatening women, stalking, and drug possession are serious offences that rightly provoke strong public condemnation. Seeing someone who has been involved in such behaviours celebrated on national television can be deeply distressing for their victims.

SHOP:

• The 'amazing' shakes that help with weight loss, skin and hair health: 'I'm down two dress sizes'

• The 'dream' pyjamas that are perfect for pregnancy, postpartum and breastfeeding

• Emma Sleep's beds and mattresses praised by customers: 'We wake up happier'

The psychological impact of seeing an abusive ex-partner portrayed as a hero on a glamorous program cannot be understated and it calls into question the sensitivity and responsibility of media outlets in their programming decisions.

Are we going to accept this as viewers?

At a time when media organisations are under increasing pressure to uphold ethical standards and accountability, the decision to feature someone with a history of troubling behaviour warrants careful consideration.

Media platforms hold significant power in shaping public perceptions and cultural norms and their decisions should reflect a thoughtful assessment of the potential impact on viewers, victims, and values.

Spotlighting individuals with checkered pasts in the name of entertainment warrants deeper reflection and accountability on what we accept as a society. The standard we walk past is the standard we accept.

Maybe the change needs to come through those holding their remote controls instead.

Want the latest celebrity news? Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.