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Sports

New Anti-Domestic Violence PSA Calls NFL Out On Their Bullshit

A new PSA features topless women calling out the NFL's hypocrisy towards the health of women.

The NFL has a problem. Aside from the concussion epidemic leading to addiction, depression, and in some cases, death, the NFL has established a notorious reputation as a breeding ground for violent sexual offenders. In this new PSA, Topless Women Talk NFL might sound like a click-baity objectification of women, but it's literally the naked truth. The NFL makes breast cancer awareness—not fundraising— a priority during the month of October, because, according to their market research, all men love boobs and all woman love pink, bedazzled jerseys, and handbags. However, the league's commitment to raising awareness to finding a cure —again, not funding— holds little value when convicted offenders like Greg Hardy are still permitted to run onto the field in front of thousands of fans with The Shield emblazoned on their chest. How can a multi-billion dollar industry claim to support women's health, yet completely disregard the physical and mental health of women who have been attacked, beaten and isolated by one of their own? Because boobs.

This is the first PSA by Made By Women's Media, "a group Los Angeles-based filmmakers who produce content to change women's lives for the better." Their call to change the narrative and end tolerance of abuse by demanding #OneHitMeansOut is powerful and simple, but as I wrote back in November, the NFL Personal Conduct Policy is not. Let's face it: the NFL's current Collective Bargaining Agreement with the NFLPA doesn't permit the league to have a zero tolerance policy, and the legal battles that would result from breaching that agreement —because the union buying in to these terms seems unlikely—is not as marketable as pink cleats, nor profitable as pink cheeseheads. But that doesn't mean the NFL shouldn't 'man-up' and take a stronger stand to support women—from their boobs, to their bodies, to their brains.