Why I stayed: Abuse victim defends husband on her Instagram account
There's a video of her getting punched unconscious by her then-fiance turned husband.
Now that the clip has been released online by TMZ, with abuse hurled in his direction, she has come out to defend him on her Instagram page.
Janay Rice, the wife of former star National Football League (NFL) player Ray Rice not only spoke up for him but also lambasted the media for bringing to light what was a private moment of pain in their relationship.
Photo: Instagram
The Baltimore Sun later confirmed that the statement was indeed released by Rice.
The episode happened in the lift of the Revel Casino in Atlantic City in February.
TMZ website, which brought the video to light, said the couple were married one month after the bust-up.
Newspaper The Baltimore Sun reported that the couple have been attending counselling.
Why stay?
While Janay Rice's statement of love and support for her husband might confuse those unable to understand why she would choose stay in an abusive relationship, writer Beverly Gooden used her experience of being in an abusive relationship to share with the world why she personally stayed in one.
Social media users have since used the hashtag #WhyIstayed to share their own heartbreaking stories of why they personally stayed in abusive relationships.
Ray Rice has since been dropped from his team the Baltimore Ravens.
The NFL has also barred him indefinitely after first banning him for two games, a move which the NFL commissioner said was made without them initially watching the video.
Sources: Instagram, TMZ, Baltimore Sun, Twitter, CBC News
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