Police apply for AVO against Andrew O’Keefe
<p dir="ltr">Police will apply for an Apprehended Violence Order against former TV host Andrew O’Keefe, which would prevent him from approaching, assaulting, threatening, stalking, harassing, or intimidating the woman he has been<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/andrew-o-keefe-arrested-over-an-assault-in-sydney-cbd" target="_blank">charged with assaulting</a>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">O’Keefe was arrested on Thursday after the alleged assault took place at a Sydney CBD apartment on Tuesday afternoon. Police will allege O’Keefe had invited the woman over to have a business discussion, only for the meeting to turn violent. A police spokesman said, 'A verbal argument ensued between the pair, before the man allegedly assaulted the woman – grabbing her by the throat, pushing her to the ground and punching her.’</p>
<p dir="ltr">He then allegedly assaulted the woman a second time by punching and kicking her. On Thursday, police confirmed they had charged O’Keefe with two counts of intentionally choking a person without consent, three counts of common assault, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He has been refused bail and will appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Friday, while his AVO hearing will take place on February 2. He is being held at Day Street police station in Sydney.</p>
<p dir="ltr">O’Keefe’s arrest on Thursday was filmed, and he was shown kicking and screaming in the back of a police van, shouting that he was the “victim of crime”. As he kicks at the doors of the paddy wagon, he can be heard shouting, “F*** you, I'm a victim of crime. I'm a victim of crime you f***wits. F*** off. Get rid of these journalists you stupid c***s. F*** you.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">Meanwhile, a publicist who has worked with O’Keefe took to Instagram to criticise those ‘salivating’ over O’Keefe’s fall from grace. She wrote, “Plenty of people salivating today over the 'fall from grace' of a TV star. Violence can never be condoned. But I know and adore the real him.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“One of my favourite ever work colleagues. This isn't who he actually is and really hope he gets through it.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">The post was reportedly liked by several other TV personalities, including Daniel Macpherson, Natalie Bassingthwaite and Jessica Rowe.</p>
<p dir="ltr">When asked by the<span> </span><em>Daily Mail<span> </span></em>in 2021 if his television career was over, O’Keefe responded, “I’m not sure if I’m over, or if TV’s over.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">The former White Ribbon ambassador and father of three was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to television in 2017.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images for GQ Australia</em></p>