I just read Mrs. Janay Rice’s response to the public’s reaction around the “elevator event” with her husband.

While I do sympathize with her around the embarrassment of the whole thing, I wonder if she actually understands the industry from which she and her husband profit. Her language seems to present a woman who thinks Mr. Rice’s public persona is isolated from his private, yet publicly recorded physical outbursts.

I wonder if she would side with Donald Sterling, and also conclude that a public response with negative consequences is not appropriate concerning the privately recorded comments to his mistress. But I’m going to push all that to the left…

Since I only know her public story, I am going to use the guise of a response to her story as an opportunity to respond to all of the other “hers” out there who defend the indefensible actions of the people they love.

First, this was her Instagram post today:

“I woke up this morning feeling like I had a horrible nightmare, feeling like I’m mourning the death of my closest friend, But to have to accept the fact that it’s reality is a nightmare itself. No one knows the pain that the media & unwanted [opinions] from the public has caused my family. To make us relive a moment in our lives that we regret everyday is a horrible thing. To take something away from the man I love that he has worked his ass off for all his life just to gain ratings is horrific. THIS IS OUR LIFE! What don’t you all get. 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! Ravensnation we love you!”

Dear Mrs. Ray Rice,

In response to your Instagram post, you are absolutely right! Keep living your life. Who is stopping you? No one. Not one single person is stopping you from loving the man who did this to you. No one is stopping you from being his wife and sticking by him. So calm down, it’s not the end of the world, honey. He was fired from a job, and people get fired every day. (Cut to me playing a small violin for Mr. Rice.)

If he worked in a different profession, there would be no public consequence for his actions against you. He could beat your head in, apologize, get treatment, and move on as the upstanding man that you claim him to be. But, he chose a profession that makes its money off of the public. He chose a profession that ceases to exist without a fan base. And when your husband treated you like a “nothing” – had you bouncing off the sides of the elevator and then dragged you out and left you on the floor like a piece of luggage – well that’s when your husband lost his fans. Sorry… that’s the business HE chose.

Again, you may still choose him after he beat you up…. but WE DON’T.
Please don’t hate us for demanding more from our entertainment heroes, than you demand from a life partner.

You do YOU, girlfriend.