Influencer receives backlash over her controversial take on Sam Wood's domestic violence charges: 'Being charged is not the same as being convicted'

An influencer has been slammed after she shared a cautionary message to followers about 'assuming' Bachelor star Sam Wood is guilty of domestic violence.

Wood was arrested on the weekend and is now facing alleged domestic violence and strangulation charges. He was denied bail on Thursday. 

Self-help coach Eryka Stanton received backlash after she uploaded a now-deleted Instagram post saying 'being charged is not the same as being convicted'. 

'Sam Wood was charged (not convicted) of domestic violence the other night,' she wrote prior to Wood's bail hearing. 

'Ignorant people on the internet have already crucified the guy without even knowing any details. 

'People are so easily influenced they cannot engage in any form of critical thinking. There are massive damaging assumptions being made that he hurt a woman.'

'Yet the reality is 'domestic violence' can include any relative - men included. Parent, partner, in-laws, etc,' she continued.

'The fact so many idiots are using this as a marketing opportunity to get hits on their page disgusts me. Don't assume he strangled his wife!

'Don't assume he's been violent towards a woman. Don't assume it wasn't self-defence or defence of his family. We simply do not have the details yet. 

'It's outrageous that people think it's okay to convict him before they even know any facts.'

Followers flocked to the comments of the now-deleted post to slam Stanton for her view but she doubled down on her message with a video.

'So, early today I put up a post about the recent charges against Sam Wood,' she began.

'Apparently me saying, "Hey guys, wait for the facts," has offended quite a few people,' she added.

'Particularly women who have interpreted that and twisted that to somehow mean that I'm defending a man who strangled his wife.

'Now, it's crazy to me that this morning I saw so many high-ranking influencers in the domestic violence space because I'm a huge advocate, myself having experienced it.

'They have just taken a headline from a news article and they've somehow twisted that into Sam Wood is a wife beater. Sam Wood strangled his wife. This is not okay.

'Some women out here are actually genuinely offended that I would even defend a man, but that's not what I'm doing here. I'm defending human rights. 

'I'm defending due process. I'm defending thinking skills, guys. Because being charged is not the same as being convicted.' 

'And right now what's happening is people are speaking as though it's already been proven that he's assaulted his wife and we simply don't have all the facts,' she continued.

'You can advocate fiercely against violence towards women or still refuse to presume a man guilty because he's been charged.'

The video was later reshared on Instagram by non-profit organisation Wundirra.

'Sam Wood is entitled to the presumption of innocence, a fair hearing and due process,' the organisation captioned the repost. 

'Taking domestic violence charges seriously does not remove those rights.

'He has been charged with assault occasioning bodily harm (domestic violence) and strangulation in a domestic setting.'

'The alleged victim has not been publicly identified as Queensland law does not allow this,' the organisation said.

'But suggesting it is irrational to suspect the alleged victim may be a woman or family member ignores the context in which these charges were reported.

'What I cannot reconcile is condemning speculation while offering explanations that all favour the accused.

'Maybe it was a man? Self-defence? Protecting his family? Based on what evidence?'

The organisation added: 'Taking allegations seriously is not determining guilt. And someone educating women about empowerment, narcissistic abuse and relationships should understand this complexity. 

'We are NOT suggesting this man is a narcissistic abuser. But narcissistic and coercive abuse show precisely why public reputation tells us little about private behaviour. 

'Someone can be admired publicly and entirely different behind closed doors. Survivors already fear they won't be believed because others 'know' another version of that person.

'That should make us MORE careful about manufacturing innocent explanations, because when we know better, we do better.

'Presumption of innocence does not mean presumption that an alleged victim is lying. How we talk about violence matters. Survivors are listening. 

'Feeling safe enough to speak can be a matter of life and death. Remember who's reading.'  

When contacted by the Daily Mail, Stanton said the online response to the topic has been 'irrational'.

'I did receive a lot of backlash but I don't believe it's reasonable to have people reacting so irrationally without the facts,' she said.

It comes after a court heard on Thursday that Sam's wife Snezana feared her celebrity fitness trainer husband was going to kill her during an alleged domestic violence attack at their beachfront apartment in the La Mer complex.

Police also told Queensland's Maroochydore Magistrates Court on the Sunshine Coast of an earlier 'similar' incident in Victoria which did not proceed further at the time.

Wood was denied bail and will remain behind bars after his arrest on Saturday night when police were called to the family's luxury apartment on Noosa's Hastings Street.

Sergeant Janette Grigoris told the bail hearing that Wood's stepdaughter Eve, 21, called Triple Zero and 'referred to the victim having been choked'.

The prosecutor told the court Snezana thought she was going to die and is now living in fear of retribution from the former Bachelor star.

Sgt Grigoris said Snezana had not made a formal statement to police but had given a version of events in a video recording.

Sgt Grigoris said Snezana referred to being choked, banging her head on the floor and not being able to breathe.

She told police the alleged attack ended only when one of the children called out.

The court was shown photographs of her alleged injuries and was told Snezana supported the criminal charges against Wood.

Sgt Grigoris told the court of a 'previous' incident in Victoria that was 'similar in nature', to which police were called, but the victim did not make a complaint.

Sergeant Grigoris said Wood's behaviour had been 'escalating'.

Wood's solicitor Mathew Cuskelly said his client denied strangling or assaulting his wife.

The court heard Wood may rely on self-defence if domestic violence charges over an alleged attack on his wife go to trial.