Cleveland Cavaliers Ad Promotes Domestic Violence As A-OK If Your Partner Is Not A Cavaliers Fan
The NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers are in hot water after showing their new promotional video that also promotes domestic violence.
The list of professional athletes accused, charged, or convicted of domestic violence or abuse is long, which makes it even more stunning to even have to ask, why would the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers decide to promote domestic violence?
In an ill-advised promotional video shown Wednesday on the team’s own jumbotron, a couple is seen at home, recreating a scene from the iconic movie “Dirty Dancing.” As the woman jumps into her partners arms, he sees she’s wearing a jersey for the Chicago Bulls, so instead of catching her, he throws her against the room.
The promo closes with her in a Cleveland jersey, an ice pack on her head, and a voiceover:Â “When it’s playoff basketball time, you have to be ‘ALL IN,’ so don’t make the same mistake she made.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGHAxbSEBZs
There are plenty who would like to dismiss this video as a joke, a spoof, “funny,” a parody.
It’s not. It promotes the idea that domestic violence is OK, and that disagreements can and should be solved with violence.
Deadspin, which first reported on the story, notes the Cavaliers have issued an apology, agreeing the video included “content that made light of domestic violence,” and called that a “mistake.”
Domestic violence is a very serious matter and has no place in a parody video that plays in an entertainment venue. We sincerely apologize to those who have been affected by domestic violence for the obvious negative feelings caused by being exposed to this insensitive video.
In response to the Cavaliers’ video, Danielle Matheson at UpRoxx reminds us of “statistics culled from The National Domestic Violence Hotline and the CDC“:
– The number of women murdered every day by a current or former male partner: 3
– The people per minute who are victims of physical violence by an intimate partner: 20 (over 10 million per year)
– 1/4 women, and 1/7 men will experience physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime
– A woman is 70 times more likely to be murdered in the few weeks after leaving her abusive partner than at any other time in the relationship.
– Women ages 18-24 and 25-34 generally experienced the highest rates of intimate partner violence (As a note, Nielsen survey statistics show that 45% of the NBA’s audience is under 35 years old, the youngest audience in mainstream sports)
While there were plenty of people on social media laughing off the Cavaliers’ video, there were plenty who did not:
http://t.co/dFvfb1TMlO It’s downright baffling that the Cavaliers didn’t notice this ad is about using violence to get a woman to agree.
— Amanda Marcotte (@AmandaMarcotte) May 7, 2015
What moron approved this?? How embarrassing. >> Cavaliers’ promotional video is distasteful & NOT funny. #WTF http://t.co/8AeGJyXScA
— M Disney (@MDisney2) May 7, 2015
http://t.co/MtGHjn1GL5 Another day, Another pro sports team insensitive to violence against women.
— David Berri (@wagesofwins) May 7, 2015
Â
Image: Screenshot via Steve McPherson/YouTube
Hat tip: Ahiza Garcia/Talking Points Memo
Enjoy this piece?
… then let us make a small request. The New Civil Rights Movement depends on readers like you to meet our ongoing expenses and continue producing quality progressive journalism. Three Silicon Valley giants consume 70 percent of all online advertising dollars, so we need your help to continue doing what we do.
NCRM is independent. You won’t find mainstream media bias here. From unflinching coverage of religious extremism, to spotlighting efforts to roll back our rights, NCRM continues to speak truth to power. America needs independent voices like NCRM to be sure no one is forgotten.
Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Help ensure NCRM remains independent long into the future. Support progressive journalism with a one-time contribution to NCRM, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click here to donate by check.