The two-year-old video showing Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon punching Amelia Molitor in a restaurant has been released.
Earlier this month, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that the video, which had been kept from public view by the city of Norman, had to be released to the media. The video of the incident can be seen on the website of The Oklahoman. Be advised -- and surely this will not be the only warning you see -- the footage is graphic.
Mixon punched Molitor at Pickleman's Gourmet Cafe in July 2014 when he was a freshman at the University of Oklahoma.
The video shows Mixon and Molitor exchanging words, at which point Molitor pushes Mixon. The running back retaliates by making a threatening, lunging motion toward Molitor, who responds by slapping Mixon. Mixon then punches Molitor, who falls to the ground, before he leaves the establishment. Molitor suffered fractured bones in her face.
"Mr. Mixon asked us to once again say he is sorry for the way he reacted that night. He has apologized publicly to Ms. Molitor, her friends, his family, teammates and the University," Mixon's attorney, Blake Johnson, wrote in a statement. "He hopes that his voluntary release of these recordings will help put this matter to rest."
Mixon wrote that letter of apology less than a month ago.
As the video is security camera footage, there is no sound to go along with the action and thus it is difficult to prove the claim from Mixon's camp that Molitor used racial slurs toward Mixon, potentially prompting -- but not excusing -- that reaction. Molitor's representation maintains that narrative is false.
Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, athletic director Joe Castiglione, and school president David Borne were reported to have viewed the tape prior to deciding to suspend Mixon him from the football team for a season but allowing him to remain with the university and rejoin the Sooners in 2015.
For his actions, Mixon was charged with a misdemeanor. He was placed on probation and ordered to complete community service.
Mixon returned in 2015 and has been a key part of the Sooners' backfield ever since. Last season he was second on the team with 753 rushing yards. In 2016, he led the team with 1,183 rushing yards.
Oklahoma released the following statement following the video's publication on Friday. It is not attributed to an individual.
University officials were made aware of the content of the video prior to taking action with respect to Joe Mixon. Based on that information, the university immediately suspended and removed Mr. Mixon from the football team for one year, during which high standards of conduct were expected and maintained. It was made clear to Mr. Mixon at the time of his suspension that violence against women will not go unpunished at the university. Coach Stoops has been proactive in presenting training for his team aimed at preventing such behavior in the future. Sensitivity training in the area of violence has been intensified and best practices will continue to be implemented. Mr. Mixon has apologized for his actions and the university hopes that it is an indication that he has learned from his mistakes. We are an educational institution where we hope young people will learn from their mistakes and chart a better future course.
As a redshirt sophomore, Mixon is eligible for the 2017 NFL Draft. With the video out for everyone to see, Mixon might strongly feel like moving on from Oklahoma, if he didn't already feel that way.
