NFL, Hollywood's anti-domestic violence PSAs debut Thursday night
The NFL's new series of Hollywood-directed anti-domestic violence PSAs will debut Thursday night during the San Diego Chargers-Denver Broncos game.
The PSAs were filmed in conjunction with actress Mariska Hargitay, known for her role on the television series "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit," and her Joyful Heart Foundation, which has been running an anti-domestic violence and sexual assault campaign PSA campaign in partnership with the NO MORE Project.
The NFL began airing "NO MORE" PSAs, which feature Hollywood stars, last month. The new PSAs star "dozens" of current and former NFL players. New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning and linebacker Mark Herzlich and current NFL vice president and former player Troy Vincent were among the first to participate in filming.
In the wake of backlash against the NFL for its handling of the Ray Rice domestic violence case and others, the league hired three women to oversee changes to its domestic violence policies and education programs, including Lisa Friel, who spoke about the issues with NBC's "Today" show.
"I think that the league was listening to people,'' Friel told NBC's Peter Alexanderin an exclusive interview that aired Wednesday on TODAY. "And they didn't have all the right voices at the table."
One of Friel's jobs will be determining when the NFL should punish players accused of domestic violence.
"It won't be upon an allegation, I can tell you that,'' she said. "And it won't be merely upon an arrest. It will be at somewhere farther down the process."
Hargitay directed PSAs filmed in New York, while actors Blair Underwood and Tate Donovan directed PSAs filmed in California and Texas, respectively.
"This is tangible. This is a monumental step toward change," Hargitay told USA TODAY Sports earlier this month. "If badass NFL heroes are coming forward to talk about these issues, I guarantee you it is going give inspiration and permission to young boys to step up in a new way. Love in a new way, protect in a new way, and to be a man in a new way."
The NFL is expected to announce its new domestic violence and sexual assault policy next month.
- Ben Estes
