Friend Defends Knightley's Abuse Ad

In the harrowing promo the British beauty plays an actress who is beaten by her lover after he accuses her of having an affair with a co-star.

The footage - made for U.K. charity Women's Aid - ends with Knightley being repeatedly kicked on the floor. It was deemed too violent for U.K. TV schedules by advertising approval body Clearcast.

But Knightley's real-life partner and Pride & Prejudice co-star is fuming the ad won't make it on to the small screen - blasting Clearcast's decision as "ridiculous".

He tells Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper, "I think that banning an advert because it is shocking is quite the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard of. What is shocking is that women are getting hit. The point is to shock people."