President Obama Condemns Ray Rice Video: 'Domestic Violence is Unacceptable in Civilised Society'

Footage of NFL star Ray Rice battering his then-fiancée, Janay Palmer, has outraged so many people that even the White House has issued an official response.
Press Secretary Josh Earnest released the following statement on behalf of President Obama after the Baltimore Ravens star was released from the squad.
"The President is the father of two daughters," it read. "And like any American, he believes that domestic violence is contemptible and unacceptable in a civilised society.
"Hitting a woman is not something a real man does, and that's true whether or not an act of violence happens in the public eye, or, far too often, behind closed doors."
TMZ recently released the footage of the infamous attack in which the sports star can be seen punching the 25-year-old to the ground.
In response, the Baltimore Ravens have released Rice and the NFL has suspended him indefinitely.
The footage was leaked after a previous video showing Rice dragging his unconscious fiancée out of the elevator surfaced back in February. It triggered a media frenzy and speculation over what happened behind the closed elevator doors, including whether or not Palmer was drunk and what she could have done to provoke Rice to hit her.
Less than a month after the incident occurred, Rice married his fiancée and she apologised for her role in the altercation during a press conference.
Rice also admitted: "I made the biggest mistake of my life. I want to own it." He received a two-game suspension from the NFL commissioner, which was perceived as soft by many fans.
The league claims it did not have access to the latest footage until today, which is why Rice only received the two-game suspension initially.
Now, many are questioning whether the player should have lost his job and are accusing the league of only taking action because the public have seen the video.
Don't condone domestic violence at all...BUT what does Ray Rice's assault have to do with his job??? The NFL is not the law.
— Alaias Lani (@MariGetBillions) September 8, 2014
Ray Rice loses his job and gets suspended indefinitely. All you chicks defendin his wife but got Chris Brown album pre ordered. Ya'll sick
— Precise Mike (@PreciseMike) September 8, 2014
The tragedy is that Ray Rice was not fired when his boss saw the video, but rather when WE saw the video weeks later.
— Scott Hanselman (@shanselman) September 9, 2014
On the other hand, many celebrities have taken to Twitter to vent their disgust.
Basketball Wives star Evelyn Lozada, who has previously been a victim of domestic abuse herself, vented her anger after watching the video and urged women not to stay in violent situations. She tweeted that the video "has me p**sed".
Please don't ? Love & manipulation will have u make stupid decisions. Praying for her ?RT @mskaiisha I am pissed off that she married him!
— Evelyn Lozada (@EvelynLozada) September 8, 2014
And Mr. Johnson is still confessing to this day & apologized. Now what? RT @CariChampion: There was no video and Chad Johnson lost his job.
— Evelyn Lozada (@EvelynLozada) September 8, 2014
Fox News and NFL reporter Jay Glazer urged him to be banned from the sport for his violent actions.
I am never speechless. That ray rice video... beyond words. Ban him now! ...
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) September 8, 2014
Plus his callous disregard for her well being after she was KO'd is equally as disturbing. Absolutely disgraceful
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) September 8, 2014
Marlon Wayans sent out a series of Tweets on domestic violence.
Men should not hit women and women should not hit men. There needs to be a two way zero tolerance. People go to therapy. Communicate better
— marlon wayans (@MarlonWayans) September 8, 2014
Men teach your son's by example. Don't ever strike a woman. Run don't walk. When things get heated discussion is over, love u. See u tomorro
— marlon wayans (@MarlonWayans) September 8, 2014
Former NFL players spoke out about the video.
Watched Ray Rice Video. As a man I am disgusted. As former NFL player I am ashamed by handling of this by the league. Despicable.
— Shaun O'Hara (@ShaunOHara60) September 8, 2014
Instead of .@RayRice27 and his Wife being the topic of your conversation today for the video let's PRAY for them and their marriage. #Truth
— DeionSanders (@DeionSanders) September 8, 2014
And there's nothing she could have said to deserve THAT. Not a damb thing... That was a planned attack. Spit on her too.. Bruh... ?#Coward
— LeCharles Bentley (@LeCharlesBent65) September 8, 2014
Seth Rogen also chimed in.
I don't know much about football, but I know that Ray Rice is a piece of garbage who shouldn't be allowed to play it professionally anymore.
— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) September 8, 2014
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