The National Football League is reviewing new information of an violent incident in February in which former Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt shoved and kicked a woman at a hotel in Cleveland.
“Consistent with standard investigatory practices, the NFL continues to pursue a complete understanding of the facts,” the NFL said in a statement Sunday. “The NFL’s ongoing investigation will include further attempts to speak to the complainants involved in the incident.”
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New NFL statement pic.twitter.com/YCqhslL7QH
— Brian McCarthy (@NFLprguy) December 2, 2018
On Friday, celebrity news outlet TMZ obtained and released video from the hotel showing Hunt aggressively pursue and shove a woman in the hallway multiple times even as his friends attempt to restrain him. At one point, Hunt pushes one of these people into the woman, knocking her to the ground. While on the ground, Hunt can be seen kicking the woman.
In response, the Chiefs announced Hunt had been released from their roster, noting that Hunt lied multiple times to team officials when asked about the incident earlier in the year.
Statement from the Kansas City Chiefs on Kareem Hunt
➡️ https://t.co/MrjIX1Y7Ke pic.twitter.com/efSMqUDio1
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) December 1, 2018
Hunt told ESPN that that he regretted his actions, acknowledging he was “in the wrong,” and said he would apologize to the woman if he ever saw her again.
The NFL has come under fire for its handling of the initial investigation. The league told the Chiefs to cease their own inquiry into the incident and did not interview the complainant against Hunt or even talk to Hunt, according to multiple reports.
The case has drawn parallels to other high-profile controversies that have involved violence against women, including that of former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice.
