Photos & Video: Janay Rice breaks silence following release of Ray Rice elevator video

UPDATE

News: Ray Rice Breaks His Silence After Violent Video Fallout: "I Have to Be Strong for My Wife"

Ray Rice  is breaking his silence since the release of video footage showing him brutally punching his then-fiancée Janay Palmer earlier this year.
In an interview with ESPN, the former Baltimore Ravens running back said, "I have to be strong for my wife. She is so strong…We are in good spirits. We have a lot of people praying for us and we'll continue to support each other."
He added, "I have to be there for [Janay] and my family right now and work through this."
The athlete then handed the phone to his wife and she explained, "I love my husband. I support him. I want people to respect our privacy in this family matter."
#Ewo!!!

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The wife of ex-Ravens running back Ray Rice took to Instagram on Tuesday to break her silence about the release of a video showing the football player knocking Janay Rice unconscious in an Atlantic City elevator.
The video, which prompted the Ravens to terminate Rice’s contract and the NFL to suspend him indefinitely, shows Rice and then-fiancée Janay Palmer in the elevator at the now-closed Revel Hotel and Casino. An extended video shows Rice spitting on his wife and then punching her. Janay falls to the ground, hitting her head on a railing in the process.

President Obama has condemned Ray Rice in the strongest terms after shocking video of the former Baltimore Ravens running back striking his then fiancée Janay Palmer emerged on Monday.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest released a short statement following consultations with the president, after TMZ released shocking footage of Rice punching unconscious in an Atlantic City elevator in February,

'The President is the father of two daughters. And like any American, he believes that domestic violence is contemptible and unacceptable in a civilized society,' said the statement which denounced Rice for his violence towards Janay, who is now his wife.

'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.

'Stopping domestic violence is something that's bigger than football – and all of us have a responsibility to put a stop to it.' 

Read Janay's statement below.

You missed the video? Watch Ray hit his spouse, Janay in the elevator, below.