On Monday morning, TMZ released a recording showing former NFL player Ray Rice knocking his then-fiancé unconscious in an elevator. Since the video emerged, the Baltimore Ravens have released Rice, the NFL has indefinitely suspended him, Nike has dropped their endorsement deal with him, and many have taken to Twitter to either defend or attack his now-wife Janay Rice.
Related: Baltimore Ravens cut Ray Rice after domestic violence video
The video also prompted writer Beverly Gooden to start a conversation on Twitter hashtagged #WhyIStayed, which aims to give people an insight into why women stay in abuse relationships. The hashtag #WhyILeft also came out of the conversation.
I stayed because my pastor told me that God hates divorce. It didn't cross my mind that God might hate abuse, too.
— Beverly Gooden (@bevtgooden)
I stayed because my pastor told me that God hates divorce. It didn't cross my mind that God might hate abuse, too. #WhyIStayed
— Beverly Gooden 🌸 (@bevtgooden) September 8, 2014
He said he would change. He promised it was the last time. I believed him. He lied.
— Beverly Gooden (@bevtgooden)
He said he would change. He promised it was the last time. I believed him. He lied. #WhyIStayed
— Beverly Gooden 🌸 (@bevtgooden) September 8, 2014
Terry O'Neill, president of the National Organization for Women, joins the show to talk more about domestic abuse raised by this case. O'Neill says the NFL has a "woman problem," in the way it handles cases of violence, harassment and objectification.