The female football fans donning Ray Rice jerseys in support the former Baltimore Ravens running back are an embarrassment to women, says Republican strategist and political consultant Noelle Nikpour.
"These women should be shamed for wearing those jerseys," Nikpour said Friday on "The Steve Malzberg Show" on
Newsmax TV.
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"There's no point in that, and what does that say? They're for Ray Rice or they're for Ray Rice and the violent outburst?"
"It's embarrassing and to my gender, a female, this is embarrassing that those women would stand up and wear the jersey with pride."
Rice's $35 million contract with the Ravens was terminated and he was suspended inefinitely by the NFL after TMZ Sports bared a video of Rice knocking out his wife-to-be Janay Palmer in a hotel elevator.
In recent days, groups of female fans have been showing up at games wearing Rice's purple and white No. 27 jersey. They say Rice, who has apologized for the vicious attack, should be forgiven and allowed to play.
But Nikpour — author of
"Branding America: What Does YOUR Brand Say About You?" published by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform — doesn't buy it.
"It'd be the equivalent of wearing something that said 'Sterling' when he did all the things or the racism with the team. It's just not right," she said, referring to Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling, who was heard making derogatory statements about African Americans.
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