Janay Rice Stands Up For Husband In New Essay, Recalls ‘Elevator Incident’

Janay Rice has become something of an unwilling face to the domestic violence awareness movement.

Throughout the ordeal that began earlier this year with TMZ releasing two videos showing Ray Rice knock her out with two left hooks in an Atlantic City elevator, she has remained steadfastly in her husband’s corner.

Now in a new essay for ESPN, she shares her version of events and touches on everything from the moment it happened to the much maligned press conference in which she “took responsibility” for the incident.

On the incident itself, Janay Rice had this to say.

“As we were arguing, he was on his phone and not looking at me. I went to reach for his phone, and when he grabbed it back, he spit at me and I slapped him.

“We got into the elevator and what happened inside is still foggy to me. The only thing I know — and I can’t even say I ‘remember’ because I only know from what Ray has told me — is that I slapped him again and then he hit me. I remember nothing else from inside the elevator.

“The next thing I do recall is being in the casino lobby, surrounded by cops.”

Moving along from that, Rice admits that she followed a “suggested” Baltimore Ravens script for what to say at the press conference, but insists that she “owned” her words.

“Looking out over the media, I became angry, seeing all the people who had been covering this and adding to the story. I wanted to tell everyone what was really on my mind. When it was my turn to speak, I said I regretted my role in the incident. I know some people disagreed with me publicly apologizing. I’m not saying that what Ray did wasn’t wrong. He and I both know it was wrong. It’s been made clear to him that it was wrong. But at the same time, who am I to put my hands on somebody? I had already apologized to Ray, and I felt that I should take responsibility for what I did. Even though this followed the Ravens’ suggested script, I owned my words.”

Janay Rice also claims that the elevator incident was a one-time thing and that it didn’t happen before and hasn’t happened since.

On Friday, it was announced that Ray Rice had won his appeal of an indefinite suspension after the league botched his punishment and only suspended him two games.

He is a free agent now and can play for any team that wants him immediately.

As far as Janay Rice is concerned, she’s all for it. But what do you think, readers? Is Rice’s essay the statements of a battered spouse, sincere spousal support, or a little of both? And do you think her husband should be allowed back on a football field? Sound off in our comments section.