LONDON, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- Art dealer Charles Saatchi contemplated suicide following the breakdown of his marriage with British celebrity chef Nigella Lawson, his friend said.
The friend, whose name was not reported, told Britain's The Sunday Telegraph Saatchi felt betrayed by Lawson when she failed to defend him after he was spotted allegedly choking her while they were dining at a London restaurant in June.
Saatchi has been calling Lawson on the phone repeatedly since the incident, but she has not responded at his attempts to contact her, the source said.
"Her silence has been driving him crazy. When she didn't reply, he used [his daughter] Phoebe to get Nigella to talk to him, to tell her she was worried about his state of mind," the source said. "He's not above using Phoebe as a bargaining chip. In the end, after the threats, Nigella called him."
Lawson filed for divorce from Saatchi, saying their marriage had "irretrievably broken down" and Saatchi was exhibiting "unreasonable behavior," court documents said.
