How to stop as pervasive and destructive a problem as domestic violence? Public-service announcements, of course.
The same powerful force that ended the nation’s drug problem through a fried-egg visual in the ’80s and abolished pollution through the arresting image of a crying Indian in the ’70s aims to eradicate domestic violence.
Mariska Hargitay’s “No More” campaign has enlisted Chargers tight end Antonio Gates, newly-minted Hall of Famer Cris Carter, Jets tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson, and other football players to speak out in the PSAs. The new spots premiere on next week’s Thursday Night Football broadcast on CBS.
The Law & Order star believes NFL games present a perfect venue for her message not because the league produces more batterers but because boys look to its stars as heroes and model behavior on their actions. Jayne Mansfield’s daughter tells TheWrap.com:
I think violence is part of the culture of the world, it’s not necessarily the culture of the NFL. It’s in every institution, it’s everywhere, it’s in society, sadly. So I think what this is, it’s just shining a light. It is a huge opportunity because people look to football players to set the bar. These are the people who are our heroes today. And if they stand up and say, “No more” and show men how to be real men…you know, this is targeted at young boys. We’re trying to grow them up a different way and teach them that there are different options and alternatives, and violence is not one of them.
Do the athletes appearing on the commercials believe in the cause or do they believe the cause fashionable? Before their falls from grace, Ray Rice participated in an anti-bullying campaign and Aaron Hernandez won the Pop Warner Inspiration to Youth award.