The first part of NBC’s “Today Show” interview with Ray and Janay Rice aired Monday. Matt Lauer interviewed Jany and her mother, Candy Palmer.
This is the second interview released since Ray was reinstated to the NFL by an independent arbitrator, featuring Janay giving her POV of the last 10 months. The first was a written interview by ESPN’s Jemele Hill, you can check that out HERE
Janay reiterates that she does not feel she is a victim of domestic violence, as this was a one-time incident fueled by alcohol. She is still hurt/angry with the Ravens organization, who she feels knew Ray’s character and abandoned him. Plus her feelings of frustration with the media and public. Janay said it might have been God’s plan for this incident to happen to raise awareness.
Janay on the Ravens press conference last May:
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Lauer: Did you want to be a part of that press conference?
Rice: I was ready to do anything that was going to help the situation.
Lauer: When you say help the situation — help Ray and his career?
Rice: Both. Help the way we looked in the media. Help his image. Help obviously his career. So, you know, they told us earlier that week we would do the press conference.
Lauer: Did anyone at the Ravens say, ‘Janay, it would be really good if you issue some kind of an apology?’
Rice: They suggested it. Yes.
Lauer: Did they come up with the wording?
Rice: No not specifically. They basically gave us a general script.
Lauer: That (apology) really started it.
Rice: Yes. And that was frustrating for me, because obviously people took it as, you know, I’m taking light off of what Ray did. In no way. I was basically, not doing what I was told, but at the same time I didn’t think it was completely wrong for me to apologize, because at the end of the day I got arrested, too, so I did something wrong, too. Not taking any light off of what Ray did because I agree with everybody else. He was wrong.
video via The Today Show
