Get your frown on, because this one's tense. The official story is that South African Charlize Theron's mom Gerda shot her father Charles to death with a shotgun when Charlize was fifteen. This occurred on the front lawn. There goes the neighborhood. Charles was allegedly an abusive alcoholic and Gerda was determined to have been acting in self-defense after she claimed Charles threatened to kill both her and Charlize. Charlize doesn't talk about this part of her past except to say that Gerda was a victim of domestic violence. Fair enough. Who'd want to talk about it - that's rough stuff. A new book has come out called "Killer Women: Fatal South African Females", discussing Gerda's case. That is a silly-ass title.
In the book, Charles' relatives dispute the facts of the case and make it look like Gerda might have been a little trigger-happy. Charlize's aunt Elsa says that her "mild mannered" brother wouldn't have gone after his wife and kid. She also says that "all those perceptions that Charles was some kind of a monster-at home were very hurtful to our family and everyone who knew him. He was a dedicated family man. His wife and daughter were the most important things in his life." *uncomfortable silence* Gerda had also shot her brother-in-law at the same time, but he escaped with a hand wound. Ok, what was going on in the Theron household? It sounds like the "Devil's Rejects". No wonder why she was so good in "Monster". That was probably a typical Thursday night where she grew up. Gerda was never charged, by the way, but that author and the sister might want to watch their asses. Especially since they're also squawking that Gerda Theron inherited "millions" after the shooting. Oh oh.
Photos: Getty Images
Princess Echoes says:
Quite an old story here (in South Africa). Gerda was acquitted because it was proven that he had high blood-alcohol content at the time and that he entered the house violently. Also proven that Gerda was abused - there was a history of domestic abuse. I can understand that the writer spoke to Charles' family (as Charlize and her mom reportedly refused to get involved) - but I find it funny that this woman does not make much of the fact that Gerda was acquitted based on forenics and fact.
Personally, I'm not a Charlize fan as she's basically said shitty things about her own country...but I think the Gerda / Charles shooting rehash is getting old and people don't review the facts objectively.
Nanc' says:
Wow. I knew the mom had shot the dad for alleged abuse BUT I never heard about her shooting the bro-in-law too or that she got millions out of it. That'll teach us; ya wanna kill-off your spouse, invite them on a trip to Africa...preferably a safari.
DruNken LauRen says:
Princess Echoes: why did she shoot the brother-n-law??? do you know???
makes me a bit afraid of this Gerda person, i hope she is not trigger happy
Bunny says:
Um Princess Echo..I am not sure what Charlize said about South Africa but like most countries, there is always room for improvement and yeah SA definitely has room for improvement. (as does the US so dont get all heated)
Now, I always thought this story was "weird". I have worked for 10 years in DV and it is RARE that a survivor would completely "get Off" after killing an abusive spouse. Especially with a shot gun? It would be one thing if they were struggling for the gun...I don't know the timeline but always thought it was weird. That must suck though for CT. I think she's pretty cool and low key so it must bite to have this very private story out there like this.
Gorgeous Black Women says:
Uh. Whatever. Beating your wife's a-- isn't something you put on blast so of course no one knew. No one wants the legacy of their brother to be that of a wife beater who got what he deserved
Shelly says:
Charlize told this story when James Lipton asked her before she won her Oscar for Monster.
She said her father would not allow her to go to a school dance at 16 yrs.old so they waited for her father to leave and he came home early to find that she went any way so he got is hand gun and waited for Charlize to return and when he aimed his gun at Charlize Gerda had the shotgun in her hands a shot him before he could shoot Charlize and a neighbor saw this and so it was a case a self defence and Gerda remarried 2 yrs.ago to a Califoria business man!
Caryl Wyatt says:
I am the author of a book called LOOK ME IN THE EYE and proudly South African. I am sickened by the negative comments about Gerda Theron. I have lived through the very same experiences and with out walking a day in her shoes...who are we to judge her.
I commend you Gerda, for holding your head up high and going on with your life. I continue to wish you and your beautiful an talented daughter well.
www.abuseisnoexcuse.co.za
Caryl
Caryl Wyatt says:
I am the author of a book called LOOK ME IN THE EYE and proudly South African. I am sickened by the negative comments about Gerda Theron. I have lived through the very same experiences and with out walking a day in her shoes...who are we to judge her.
I commend you Gerda, for holding your head up high and going on with your life. I continue to wish you and your beautiful an talented daughter well.
www.abuseisnoexcuse.co.za
Caryl