UltraViolet Demands NBA Put Kevin Porter Jr. on Leave After Assault Against Girlfriend, Former WNBA Player Kysre Gondrezick
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 13, 2023
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UltraViolet Demands NBA Put Kevin Porter Jr. on Leave After Assault Against Girlfriend, Former WNBA Player Kysre Gondrezick
Leading gender justice advocacy group urges NBA to put Kevin Porter Jr. on leave, demands Houston Rockets take disciplinary action against Porter for domestic abuse
NEW YORK, NY — On Monday, Kevin Porter Jr. of the NBA’s Houston Rockets was arrested and arraigned by prosecutors in Manhattan for assaulting his girlfriend, former WNBA player Kysre Gondrezick.
Gondrezick told police that Porter punched her repeatedly in the face with a closed fist, cutting her above the right eye and causing bruising and substantial pain to her face. Gondrezick sustained a fractured vertebra in her neck.
In response to the news, Nicole Regalado, Vice President of Campaigns at UltraViolet, a national gender justice advocacy organization, issued the following statement:
“We are deeply disturbed by Kevin Porter Jr.’s actions and extend our unequivocal solidarity and support to Kysre Gondrezick as a survivor of domestic abuse.
“Moreover, we urge the NBA to take a dignified stance against domestic violence by placing Kevin Porter Jr. on administrative leave immediately as the league conducts its own internal investigation into Porter’s conduct. With Porter’s distressing record of domestic violence, we also urge the Houston Rockets to take tangible disciplinary action against him as well.
“For too long, the NBA has responded to incidents of domestic violence committed by players with meager slaps on the wrist. This sends an awful message — not just to players, but to NBA fans and survivors of domestic abuse everywhere.
“It’s time for the NBA and commissioner Adam Silver to take action against domestic violence by holding players like Kevin Porter Jr. accountable.”
UltraViolet has a long history of holding sports leagues and their leaders, including the NFL, accountable for their complacency toward players who commit domestic violence.
In 2015, the group launched the #GoodellMustGo campaign, demanding Commissioner Roger Goodell’s termination after his failure to adequately address domestic violence in the NFL and tolerance for sexual harassment against women employees.
In 2020, UltraViolet insisted that the NFL compel Dan Snyder to sell the Commanders after an investigation revealed his role in enabling, encouraging and fostering a hostile workplace and toxic culture for women. Last month, the demand was met after NFL owners voted unanimously for the team’s sale from the Snyder family.
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