Janay Rice, the wife of NFL player Ray Rice, had some hard-hitting news as she slammed the critics of her husband and their relationship.
On Monday, Baltimore Ravens player Rice had been indefinitely suspended from playing professional football following the release of a video footage of him making violent attacks on his then-fiancé Janay Palmer.
Mixed reactions have been evident on social media, particularly on Twitter, with which two hashtags became trending topics worldwide. According to TIME, #WhyIStayed and #WhyILeft brought on conversations on domestic violence and generated feelings of sympathy and shock alike among users.
Last Tuesday, Janay took to Instagram and posted a message that seemed to condemn "the media and unwanted opinions from the public", which has brought on pain for her family. In an attempt to defend her relationship with her NFL player husband, she said in the statement: "If your intentions were to hurt us, embarrass us, make us feel alone, take all happiness away, you've succeeded on so many levels."
Her statement generated another bout of social media buzz, and mixed reactions from online users have been evident, including sadness, understanding, and even disapproval.
On the same day that she posted her Instagram message, Janay told ESPN that she loves her husband and that she will continue her support for him, CNN has reported.
"I want people to respect our privacy in this family matter," she said.
As a response, Rice himself sent a text message to CNN sports journalist Rachel Nichols, saying: "I'm just holding strong for my wife and kid that's all I can do right now."
Going viral online, the video footage was made public by TMZ Sports, showing Rice and his then-girlfriend Janay together in an Atlantic City casino elevator. As they exchanged attacks, the football player knocks his partner off her feet and causes her to hit the railing. A few months ago, TMZ also released a video that showed Rice dragging Janay from a Revel casino elevator.
The NFL player was initially suspended from two games but he would have been allowed to come back after his team's game against the Steelers last Thursday. However, after the video emerged, he has since been fired by his team.
