Some NBA fans are crying foul after the Cleveland Cavaliers showed a promo that they say makes light of domestic violence during Wednesday's playoff game against the Chicago Bulls.
The video shows a Cavaliers fan dancing to "Time of My Life" with his girlfriend in a spoof on "Dirty Dancing." When the woman runs up to him for a lift, he sees she's wearing a Bulls shirt and proceeds to throw her to the ground instead of catching her.
At the end of the promo, the woman, now wearing a Cavaliers shirt, is sitting next to her boyfriend holding an ice pack to her head. When he says, "I thought you were all in," she responds, "Well, I'm all in now."
A day after the promo aired during the game, the women's group UltraViolet released a statement slamming the video.
"If this last year has taught us anything, it's that domestic violence is a very serious issue in America ... With a national epidemic of violence against women, we simply cannot afford to have the NBA condone this kind of violence," the group said in the statement.
The Cavaliers have since apologized for the promo and taken it down from their Vimeo page. Tad Carper, the senior vice president of communications for the team, said the promo was meant to be "a humorous spoof," but he admitted it went too far.
"While the video was not intended to be offensive, it was a mistake to include content that made light of domestic violence," Carper said.
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"Domestic violence is a very serious matter and has no place in a parody video that plays in an entertainment venue. We sincerely apologize to those who have been affected by domestic violence for the obvious negative feelings caused by being exposed to this insensitive video."
