Ray Rice’s wife, Janay Rice, issues statement blaming media for her ‘horrible nightmare’
On Monday, new video was released of NFL player Ray Rice knocking out his now-wife, Janay Rice, during an argument in February. Within hours, the Baltimore Ravens fired the star running back and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell followed up by “indefinitely suspending” Ray from any league play.
Although Ray is yet to publicly react to the developments, wife Janay posted a lengthy comment about the matter on Instagram this morning. The message was verified by The Baltimore Sun, which added Janay intended for her statement to be released.
“I woke up this morning feeling like I had a horrible nightmare, feeling like I’m mourning the death of my closest friend,” said Janay, who married Ray one month after the assault. “But to have to accept the fact that it’s reality is a nightmare in itself. No one knows the pain that media & unwanted options from the public has caused my family. To make us relive a moment in our lives that we regret every day is a horrible thing. To take something away from the man I love that he has worked his a** [off] for all his life just to gain ratings is horrific.”
Janay, who shares a daughter named Rayven with Ray, added others need to understand “this is our life.” She continued, “If your intentions were to hurt us, embarrass us, make us feel alone, take all happiness away, you’ve succeeded on so many levels. Just know we will continue to grow & show the world what real love is!”
Despite what Janay said about feeling alone, Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh said in a press conference on Monday that the team will continue to “stand in support of them as a couple.”
“When somebody that you care about does wrong and is faced with the consequences of doing wrong and rightfully so, it is tough, it is hurtful. My pain is for both of them as a couple,” he said. “Going forward, my hope is that they can make it work. From everything that I understand in talking to Ray up until his suspension — talking to him a lot — it seemed like they were working hard and they were really doing well. I hope they can weather this part of it, too. I’ll be praying for them. If my wife and I can help in any way, we will. That’s where it’s at.”
