The NFL’s domestic violence problem finally became public last summer when the Ray Rice video surfaced. We wrote about it here, here, and here. Since that time, there have been changes made within the NFL and in how the public views this issue. Athletes came forward with their stories, and Law & Order SVU star Mariska Hargitay, the founder of A Joyful Heart has helped to get celebrities involved with the No More campaign.

Jane McManus of ESPNW.com writes:

The No More ads have been an important part of the NFL season. The league committed more than $35 million dollars of ad time to the public service announcements, which feature celebrities and football players discussing and reacting to the issue.

Maile Zambuto and Mariska Hargitay are part of the team behind the No More campaign, whose release time was moved up after the NFL donated air time.
The most recent incarnation is called “Speechless,” in which an athlete or celebrity like Cris Carter or Hilary Swank prepares to talk about domestic violence and becomes emotional — red eyes, looking away, perhaps about to cry.

These words flash on the screen: “Domestic violence and sexual assault are hard subjects for everyone to talk about.”

Then, more emotional reaction.

Finally: “Help us start the conversation.”

Each ad outlines one of the very real reasons why domestic violence is so difficult to stop. People will talk about criminals shooting up schools, people will talk about thieves and murderers, but people do NOT talk about domestic violence. Why don’t they? Why don’t we?