Janay Rice defends her husband during "horrible nightmare"

BALTIMORE, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Janay Rice defended her husband in an Instagram post Tuesday, calling the media's treatment of her husband a "horrible nightmare."

The post was in response to outrage over a video published by TMZ Monday showing Ray Rice punching his then-fiancee in the face rendering her unconscious. Rice was cut from the Baltimore Ravens and has been suspended indefinitely from the NFL.

Janay stood at her husband's side during his apology after the original video surfaced, showing him dragging her unconscious body out of the elevator.

In her statement, she said the public and media voiced unwanted opinions "just to gain ratings," which caused her family pain and caused a "horrible nightmare."

"I woke up this morning feeling like I had a horrible nightmare, 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 in itself. No one knows the pain that 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 a 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 NFL's mishandling of the domestic abuse charges has caused outrage throughout the country. The NFL said it never saw the video of the assault, but the Revel Hotel and Casino said it never received a request for a copy of the tape.