And when able to act out his abusive fantasies he wrecked April Anderson's life for two years. Yes, she enabled it to an extent but the power disparity is the relevant part.
This is not me absolving April of
any personal responsibility, but some people have a real vulnerability to narcissistic partners. That dynamic can take over to the point where they hit rock bottom and still feel they want to crawl back in, no matter the price because they are star crossed lovers (which Nick emphatically reinforced). Breaking out of it can be incredibly difficult, like going cold turkey from drugs because their brain chemistry becomes dependent on the cycle of approval and "love."
I am glad to see she seems to have done a full 180 and is now living a more private life, without that kind of public humiliation. That suggests her behavior was not just about her addiction to substances, but also about the influence and control he had over her. Those kinds of dynamics can be extremely damaging, especially when reinforced through trauma and love bombing. It is a very typical pattern seen in dysfunctional BDP/NPD relationships.
So no, even without a public statement, Nick, people can observe patterns, use basic judgment, and draw reasonable conclusions from what they have seen.
You are an abuser, whether you see yourself that way or not. You have damaged and diminished the quality of life of anyone and everyone who has gotten close to you, regardless of your opinion on it. No one is better off having you in their life. You are a cockroach, pun intended.