Ray Rice, the Baltimore Ravens All-Pro running back, answered questions from media and apologized Thursday for his assaulting his then-fiancee, Janay Palmer, in February.
This was the second press conference Rice has held since the incident inside an Atlantic City, N.J., hotel elevator. The difference this time is that Rice directly apologized to Palmer, who is now his wife.
"There are many nights that me and my wife sleep together and we still have to deal with this," Rice said. "And her pain is my pain, my pain is her pain, the one thing I wanted to do today is you know apologize to my wife, who I've known since high school. I've known her since a kid. I met her in high school and she's the same girl now, great mother, and she's a great wife, and she supports me throughout.
"When the time is right, when the time is right, and I say that because you have to fix yourself before you can go out and help others, and when the time is right me and my wife want to go out there and help people, anybody, violence of any kind, especially man on woman, is just not right. It's not right, it shouldn't be tolerated, it's not right for society, no matter what. That's something I'll stand by and I have to pay for that."
Rice called his action "inexcusable" and vowed it was a "one-time incident." As a result of the experience, Rice said he will become an "ambassador" in the fight against domestic violence.
But apologizing will do little to ease the pain Rice will confront each time he looks at his daughter. He knows the day will come when he must explain his behavior that February night to her. That night I replay over and over in my head. That's not me," the 27-year-old Rice said. "My actions were inexcusable. That's something I have to live with the rest of my life. The pain I'm talking about living with is waking up every day, and my daughter is 2 years old now, and I have a little girl, who's very smart, very intelligent, and one day she's going to know the power of Google, and me having to explain that to her, what happened that night."
Immediately after Rice issued his apology, Twitter was abuzz with reactions:
Ray Rice's apology doesn't change anything https://t.co/geIpndVEeu — ryan van bibber (@justRVB) July 31, 2014
Definitely dont agree with what Ray rice did but I liked his apology. took responsibility 4 what happened. Everybody deserves a 2nd chance — Drea Avent (@dreaavent) July 31, 2014
Don't agree with what Ray rice did but I respect his apology to the public and his wife. He took responsibility for what happened. — Tre Thomas (@T_timestwo) July 31, 2014
Ray Rice apologized, finally. Still doesn't change anything. https://t.co/cpMgHaNqxy — Brian Floyd (@BrianMFloyd) July 31, 2014
Nice apology by Ray Rice. Actions matter more. Wonder if that really was the first time he hit a woman. — HoldenKushner (@Holdenradio) July 31, 2014
Are people really falling for this Ray Rice apology??? He is just sorry he got caught @foxsports910 @KennyAndCrash — Gary Smith (@InsaneASUball) July 31, 2014
Ray Rice taking a direct approach. Sincere apology. Doesn't make it right but tons of pro athletes run from their actions. — Bruce Jones (@brucejones13088) July 31, 2014
Ray Rice apology was sincere — Chicaglo Bull TGOD (@ELTavo91) July 31, 2014
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