Knocked out wife defends husband, calls media attention a 'nightmare'

Booted NFL Baltimore Ravens player, Ray Rice's wife has come out in support of her husband after footage of him knocking her out surfaced recently.

Janay Rice, who was captured at the receiving end of a brutal blow by then fiancé, Ray Rice, has posted a message of encouragement and endearment for her husband. Ray was dropped from a R400 million football contract by the management of the Baltimore Ravens.

In her Instagram message, Janay says: "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 know(s) the pain that the media & unwanted options (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!"

The Baltimore Ravens management claimed they only gave him a two game suspension when footage of Ray dragging his wife out of the elevator surfaced in May.

However, since extra footage emerged, in which Ray's wife takes a swing at him and he retaliates by savagely punching her leaked, the Baltimore Ravens and NFL state they have dropped him. They added that had they known sooner of the extra footage, Ray would have been booted from the team and league a long time ago.

Rice issued an apology at a press conference accompanied by his wife at the time of the incident. The two got married shortly thereafter and have a daughter together.

See the video of the incident below.