Ray Rice has issued an apology via a statement to the city of Baltimore for the domestic violence scandal he became entrenched in that prompted a nationwide discussion about domestic assault, the New York Post reports.
It’s been almost a year since Rice was arrested for assaulting his then-fiancee, Janay Palmer, in the elevator of an Atlantic City, N.J., casino. Video footage released of the incident showed Rice punching Janay and rendering her unconscious.
“To all the kids who looked up to me, I’m truly sorry for letting you down but I hope it’s helped you learn that one bad decision can turn your dream into a nightmare,” he said in the statement, addressed to “Dear Baltimore.”
“There is no excuse for domestic violence and I apologize for the horrible mistake I made,” he added. “I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me, and I hope to make a positive difference in people’s lives by raising awareness of this issue.”
The assault, as the Post notes, led to the strengthening of NFL policies on domestic violence and sexual assault.
Rice, who was let go from the Ravens following the assault, had spent his seven-year career with that team. He also thanked the team and the city in his note. “The last seven years that my family and I have spent in Baltimore have by far been the best of our lives,” he wrote. “From the bottom of my heart, I thank you all for the love and support you’ve shown my family and I throughout my football career.
“We’ll always be grateful for the love we’ve received from all of our fans and supporters, and for winning a Super Bowl,” Rice added. “I’ll always be proud to say I played for the Baltimore Ravens.”
As the Post notes, Rice pleaded not guilty to aggravated assault in May and entered into a pretrial intervention program.
Read more at the New York Post.