Associated Press
NEW YORK--A big corporate sponsor and a major videogame maker
severed ties with American football player Ray Rice a day after he
was let go by his Baltimore Ravens team and suspended indefinitely
by the National Football League, following the release of a video
showing him striking his then-fiancee in February.
Sportswear, footwear and sporting goods maker Nike Inc.
confirmed via email on Tuesday that Mr. Rice no is longer among the
athletes it is working with.
And videogame publisher Electronic Arts said it is removing the
Ravens star running back from its recently released MaddenNFL 15
title. EA Sports said Rice will be removed from the game's roster
on Friday through an online update. EA Sports cited Rice's
indefinite suspension from the NFL as the reason for his
removal.
On Monday, broadcaster TMZ Sports released a grainy video
showing Mr. Rice and Janay Palmer in an elevator at an Atlantic
City casino. The video shows each hitting the other before Mr. Rice
knocked Ms. Palmer off her feet and into a railing.
Months ago, a TMZ video only showed Mr. Rice dragging Ms.
Palmer, now his wife, from the elevator at the Revel casino.
The Baltimore Ravens also said on their Twitter feed on Tuesday
that the team plans to offer customers an exchange for jerseys
bought bearing Mr. Rice's name.
According to The Wall Street Journal, EA removed former New
England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez, who has been charged with
murder, from last year's version of Madden. EA's share price
slipped 1.2% in intraday trading on Tuesday to $37.55.
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