Ray Rice punch sparks CNN-Fox News war

Janay and Ray Rice

NFL star Ray Rice's infamous punch that knocked out his future wife has now been elevated to a cable-news battle, as CNN is blasting a Fox News host for an apparent joke he made about the incident.

On Monday morning's edition of "Fox & Friends," host Brian Kilmeade had said the lesson to be learned from the event was: "take the stairs."

Then on Tuesday morning, Kilmeade addressed his remark, but did not apologize for it.

TRENDING: Impeach!

"Comments we made during this story yesterday made some feel like we were taking the situation too lightly," Kilmeade said.

"We are not. We were not. Domestic abuse is a very serious issue to us, I can assure you."

Kilmeade's second-day comments were flayed by CNN's senior media correspondent Brian Stelter.

"To say 'Take the stairs,' it implies that's a way to go and commit that kind of crime and do it secretly. It was a horrible thing to say," Stelter said.

After CNN aired Kilmeade's brief explanation, Stelter continued his analysis.

"Notice what he (Kilmeade) said there: 'It made SOME people feel like we weren't taking it seriously.'

"It's a very cheap way to pretend to apologize, but, then again, Fox News tends not to come out and apologize when their hosts say offensive things. This is kind of how the network operates. So I can't tell you I'm particularly surprised by it."

The Rice incident has engrossed the nation this week, after security video inside an Atlantic City casino elevator revealed the Baltimore Ravens running back clobbering his then-fiancee.

Watch the video of Ray Rice punching Janay (WARNING: Graphic content):

The Ravens terminated Rice's contract Monday, the same day the violent video surfaced.

Meanwhile, Janay Rice, the battered woman, spoke out on Instagram Tuesday, as she defended her husband and marriage, while attacking the media:

"I woke up this morning feeling like I had a horrible nightmare, feeling like I'm mourning the death of my closest friend. But to have to accept the fact that it's reality is a nightmare in itself. No one knows the pain that the media & unwanted options from the public has caused my family. To make us relive a moment in our lives that we regret every day is a horrible thing. To take something away from the man I love that he has worked his ass off for all his life just to gain ratings is a horrific [sic]. THIS IS OUR LIFE! What don't you all get. If your intentions were to hurt us, embarrass us, make us feel alone, take all happiness away, you've succeeded on so many levels. Just know we will continue to grow & show the world what real love is! Ravensnation we love you!"