MovieChat Forums > The L.A. Complex (2012) Discussion > **TO ALL THE MORONS THAT CLAIM TARIQ BRO...

**TO ALL THE MORONS THAT CLAIM TARIQ BROUGHT THE BEATDOWN ON HIMSELF

posted 12 years ago by bbarber1
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Some of my friends and I were discussing the show last night. They said that Tariq had it coming because he failed to leave Kaldrick before it was too late. He decided to stay in an physically abusive relationship with an mentally unstable man and had to reap the consequences. At least the lawyer from Kaldrick's 2nd fling was smart enough to cut off...

This is where I intervened...Tariq was just blinded by love. Sure the relationship started off from sex and was full of domestic abuse but he fell in love with all the good qualities of Kaldrick..This seems to be the case is some domestic abuse relationships. The victim only sees the good in the significant other and uses this to outweigh the bad.

[–] oddity94 12 years ago

I wasn't even aware of people thinking this !

[–] GrammarMatters 12 years ago

People looking at a troubled relationship like this from the outside have NO ability at all to understand what it is like for the victim or to empasize with them.

And I say this because I WAS a "battered wife." Even I sometimes find it hard to understand why women stay with men who treat them terribly - and then I remember all the abuse I went through. (My ex said she was going to kill me - and then she sure tried her hardest. She was arrested and then continued to stalk me - and even though I changed my phone number she found the new number - and when I tried to block her from calling from her phone number she called the operator to ask for an "operator emergency call break-through." She called and called and called - and threatened - one of her nicest threats was she was going to "pay junkies to break into my home and kill me if I was there.")

It's very easy for the public to blame the victim - because nobody understands why they don't just LEAVE after the first assault. Well, I did after the first time she attacked me (not the time she got arrested - which was later) - but then if you are a lonely, isolated person, after a week or two you start to forget about the pain and remember more of the good times - and if they call again being nice - you too often give in.

[–] bbarber1 12 years ago

Very true...this is was obviously the case with Tariq. He loved Kaldrick and wanted to forgive him after the first assault. Those two really clicked on screen although they were the exact opposites. Tariq is the warm, kind, and soft spoken kid and Kaldrick is the hot heading train of destruction. Its like they balanced each other out.

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] nicci212000 12 years ago

Freakati-

Don't get me wrong I am not saying that Tariq had it coming, but there were warning signs.

Warning Sign 1, Kal already had a reputation as a violent gangster rapper. He had done prison time and was on parole or probabtion. That says a lot about a person's character. Now, I know that people can change, but as Tariq spent time with Kal in the studio he should have been able to see that reputation was not just a persona. It was very Real. Kal did have serious anger issues.

Warning Sign 2, Kal was being very confrontational with Tariq from the beginning. He was extremely rude and aggressive. He even got up in Tariq's face within inches talking all crazy trying to physically intimidate him. I think he may have even pushed him once while he was going off. Someone will have to correct me if I'm wrong, but I do think Kal and Tariq got into a physical altercation before the final incident. I can't remember... Anyway, if this is how you act when you are attracted/like someone you have a serious problem. Who would want their significant other expressing their affection in that way? This type of behavior would not draw me in the slightest. In fact, I would have a whole lot of questions and reservations. I guess Tariq didn't mind.

Warning Sign 3, he threaten Abby with violence, and Tariq knew about it. After all this I would not need you to paint the entire picture for me. My mind would say DANGER AHEAD! But, hey that's just me and my common sense...I was not surprised that Kal assaulted Tariq. I was just surprised that he did it to cover up the kiss to prevent himself from being outted. Also, the extent to which he beat Tariq's face(he's a little guy compared to Kal)was shocking. That was cold.

[–] bbarber1 12 years ago

Yeah the acting between Andre and Benjamin between the two characters are amazing. It must be challenging to play gay characters who get intimate especially when they are both straight in real life lol

[–] GrammarMatters 12 years ago

My memorie's REALLY bad, but I'm pretty sure there was at least one other prior physical confrontation between the two of them.

Wasn't their a pretty significant tustle in a parking lot - and the first time they kissed it was all about power and dominance and threat of violence.

It's sad, Nicci, but there ARE people who are ATTRACTED to this type of violence - being on the losing end of it. I guess it is a bit of a stereotype, but I believe that girls who grow up seeing their mom being abused - they VERY often become attracted to that type of man when they start to date. Sadly, that is the only type of behavior they know - and feel "comfortable" with. I guess - to them - that sort of fear is "normal." (In the same way that if you grow up with a parent who is an alcoholic - I'm pretty sure your chances of becoming one yourself are MUCH higher than the average person.

[–] nicci212000 12 years ago

BillMc-

I first want you to know that I am in no way trying to be insensitive to battered or abused individuals. I hope my post did not come off that way as that was not my intention.

I was simply stating that the signs were there. Now, whether a person chooses to ignore the signs, is attracted to that type of behavior/person, or is in need of love and attention so bad that they put up with the behavior is a whole other thing. But regardless, the signs are still there. If a person chooses to move forward with the situation it is a bad decision, but it IS a decision that they are choosing to make. It's difficult to claim that you didn't know or didn't see it coming. I am only speaking of Kal and Tariq. This show. Not all cases... It wasn't like Kal was a nice guy(or even pretending to be), and then all of a sudden you start to notice that he has a temper or you later discover that there are some discrepancies in his personality but you try to hang in there. Kal was frightening from the beginning!!

To me it's simple survival instincts that should kick in and let you know that you are in danger. ... Again, I am not blaming Tariq for what happened to him. No matter what signs were there Kal was wrong.

"It's sad, Nicci, but there ARE people who are ATTRACTED to this type of violence - being on the losing end of it. I guess it is a bit of a stereotype, but I believe that girls who grow up seeing their mom being abused - they VERY often become attracted to that type of man when they start to date."

I agree with you.

[–] GrammarMatters 12 years ago

Hi Nicci. I didn't find your post insensitive. And you are absolutely right - all the signs were there for Tariq to see.

The reasons why a victim chooses to stay in a relationship with someone who batters them are almost impossible to understand for someone who is sane and normal and who has grown up in a reasonably healthy family.

And this maybe explains why so many psychiatrists and psyhcologists are fairly likely to be at least a little bit insane - it is the wounds they suffered when they were young that sent them into that field of study - in an attempt to understand themselves, or the parents that hurt them - and I think many of those who enter the psychotherapy field are searching for a way to heal themselves.

[–] GrammarMatters 12 years ago

And about some of your other points - I don't think it wasn't that Tariq "didn't mind" the threat of violence - I wonder if maybe he had never really seen the end result of that type of threats - at least not for real in his life. Maybe he grew up in a stable middle class neighborhood far away from frequent violence.

And I guess what can be noted is how TERRIFIED Kaldrick is of being found out. He resorts to violence because he is AFRAID. I guess he has seen lots of men attacked for being gay, or even just effeminate - while he grew up.

[–] bbarber1 12 years ago

Okay now I remember. They were fighting in the studio parking lot over abby.. kaldrick pushed Tariq into the wall hard and then tried to kiss him but then Tariq kicked him in the balls. Unfortunately, kaldrick later on apologized to Tariq and abby. They then had make up sex in tariq's place back at the lux. It was like they could go a whole episode without having sex

[–] venusebony 12 years ago

Sometimes people do blame the victim they say the victim had it coming. But I think Tariq was in love although I do believe Kal was definitely abusive. I think it was episode 4 when I realized Kal has feelings for Tariq but I deplore the violence. I just can't see Kal and Tariq getting back together he really beat the crap about Tariq. Tariq needs to be strong and move on.

But on the other hand in the REAL WORLD many people gay men and women take BACK their violent partners. Look at Rihanna she's crying on Oprah saying she wants Chris Brown back! People just don't understand it but she loves him.

[–] winner1-2 12 years ago

That's disgusting to be honest! This would almost be similar to people blaming rape victims that they brought it upon themselves because they dressed a certain way. :/

What Kal did was unforgivable so I hope the writers are not going to have them become a couple again. That would be giving out the wrong message even though we saw Kal "grow" these past episodes.

I feel like that's going to happen though because if Tariq returns as a regular cast member, he would have to reunite with Kal because that's the only connection Kal has to the Lux besides Abby... Maybe Tariq can have his own storyline and Kal and the Lawyer can get theirs?

I really want Alicia to return too! I have a feeling Beth and Simon will be gone due to all the hate for them!

[–] Becca8 12 years ago

I hate Tariq but it definatly wasn't his fault....

[–] bbarber1 12 years ago

How the heck could you hate a character like that. He was one of the most innocent and loving characters on the show and he did not deserve what kaldrick did to him

[–] Becca8 12 years ago

He just annoyed me. He reminded me of my ex best friend.

[–] winner1-2 12 years ago

Hate is pretty harsh word for such a harmless character. I don't love Tariq like most people on this board do. He's probably one of my least favourite character on the show.

If I had to choose him or Alicia, I would choose Alicia in a heart beat! Loved her storyline.