MLB Is Investigating Allegation Of Domestic Violence Against Cubs' Addison Russell (Updated)
By Stephen Gossett in Arts & Entertainment on Jun 8, 2017 4:50PM
Cubs shortstop Addison Russell / Getty Images / Photo: Matthew Stockman
Updated 3:40 p.m.
A Major League Baseball official confirmed that the league is performing an investigation after a domestic-violence allegation surfaced against Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell, according to a report by ESPN.
The accusation was made in an Instagram comment by a woman that Russell's wife, Melisa, identified as a close friend. In a now-deleted Instagram post, Melisa had accused Russell of cheating. "Being free to be able to make your own choices for your own happiness beats being cheated on, lied to, & disrespected any day," she wrote.
In a comment on the post, the friend wrote, "hateful is cheating on your wife, mentally & physically abusing her." The friend wrote that "he hit her" in front of the couple's children.
Russell released a statement Thursday afternoon denying the allegations:
“Any allegation I have abused my wife is false and hurtful,” said Russell. “For the well-being of my family, I’ll have no no further comment.”
A screenshot of the accusation, as linked by the New York Post, can seen below. Melisa's original Instagram post follows.
Good God, Addison Russell's wife blew him up *while the Cubs are playing* https://t.co/9OhpzJPP67 pic.twitter.com/Ck2Pnfufkh
— Jon Tayler (@JATayler) June 8, 2017
The Cubs have not publicly commented about the allegation or investigation. The Sun-Times reports that a team official said the organization is looking into the accusation but did not comment.
As ESPN notes, MLB adopted a stricter domestic violence policy in 2015. The Cubs were strongly criticized by many—including by us—when they signed (since departed) closer Aroldis Chapman, who had allegedly choked his girlfriend and fired shots in her vicinity. According to the Sun-Times, it is belived the league will try to interview both Russell's wife and her friend.