A single mother-of-three who was mocked for her appearance on national television has revealed the heartbreaking story behind her broken teeth.
Jessica Sewell, 29, featured in a TV segment about her ex-boyfriend giving out her phone number for a fake ‘Chewbacca roar contest’ in Cairns, Queensland.
When they broke up she was inundated with voicemails after he put up a poster with her phone number, urging people to call up and do an impression of the Star Wars wookie for a chance to win $100.
But when a segment about the bizarre prank aired on TVNZ reporter, Wilson Longhurst made cruel comments about her ‘teeth and her hair’ on live TV.
Ms Sewell told Daily Mail Australia her teeth aren’t perfect because they were knocked out during a domestic violence incident.
Jessica Sewell, 29, (pictured) featured in a story about her ex-boyfriend giving out her phone number for a fake ‘Chewbacca roar contest’ in Cairns, Queensland
But her coloured hair and missing teeth were criticised on national TV by TVNZ reporter Wilson Longhurst
‘Me and my ex-partner used to get into a lot of fights… It would get to the point where he would either headbutt me, hold me down to the ground, get quite physical.. If we were in the car he would elbow me,’ she said.
The abusive partner was not the same man as the one who pulled the ‘Chewbacca’ prank.
The mother-of-three, one of whom has autism, said she has stayed positive and revealed her appearance is the last thing on her mind.
‘He was a hardcore bad person, but I’m lucky I got away. I’ve got no choice but to put my big girl pants on and become tough,’ she said.
In response to the recent media attention and the ‘shallow’ comments from the TV journalist, she said she is staying strong for her children.
Ms Sewell told Daily Mail Australia beauty is skin deep and she is a stronger person after enduring domestic violence
‘I was just trying to let women know as dark and as harsh as men are to you – you can still smile through it,’ she said.
‘Beauty is only skin deep.’
Meanwhile the young mum said she hasn’t had an opportunity to get her teeth fixed because it wasn’t a priority while raising three young children.
In a cheeky dig at Longhurst, she suggested she would happy to get the work done if he paid for it.
But instead she has set up a Gofundme page to try and raise funds for the expensive procedure with the support from the community.
Not only has she had to endure the unprovoked attack from the reporter, but she’s also copping abuse from trolls online.
The TVNZ reporter made the embarrassing gaffe while presenting the story on the station’s breakfast show on Monday.
After presenting Jessica’s story, Mr Longhurst (right) made fun of her teeth and hair. He was reprimanded by Breakfast co-hosts Hayley Holt (left) and John Campbell (centre) on live TV before apologising on the ‘naughty chair’ (pictured) shortly after
‘If there’s anyone out there that can do the real Chewbacca sound, I might marry you,’ Jessica said in the story.
This prompted Mr Longhurst to rudely remark: ‘What a prize Jessica is, with all her teeth and her hair.’
Breakfast co-host John Campbell immediately called out Mr Longhurst for his hurtful comments on live TV.
‘This isn’t a eugenics competition,’ Mr Campbell said, before telling Mr Longhurst to ‘get out’.
‘I’ll be having a little bit of a chat with Wilson (Longhurst) later.’
TVNZ reporter Wilson Longhurst (right) and a female friend. Mr Longhurst has apologised for a ‘misogynistic comment’ after cruelly mocking an Australian single mother on live TV
Shortly after, Mr Longhurst sat on the ‘naughty chair because I want to apologise to the woman in the story, Jessica’.
‘What I said wasn’t funny, it was quite frankly something that just slipped out. But it was a misogynistic comment and I am sorry,’ Mr Longhurst said.
‘I’m going to take a good, long hard look at myself once we get off air this morning because it just wasn’t good enough and I’m really disappointed in myself and I know a lot of you aren’t happy with what I said.’
A poster for a ‘Chewbacca roar contest’ including mother-of-three Jessica’s mobile phone number