Kemo
04-26-2023, 07:02 PM
Vince McMahon and WWE are back in hot water amid allegations of discrimination, racism, and vindictive behavior.
Earlier this year, McMahon returned to WWE following a five-month retirement, stemming from the 2022 hush money scandal.
McMahon reportedly threatened to block all negotiations over media rights and a potential sale unless he was reinstated to the Board of Directors.
In a suit filed in the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York, it is alleged that McMahon/WWE discriminated against former WWE writer Britney Abrahams.
Abrahams alleges that WWE intended to use "offensively racist and stereotypical jargon" in promos for multiple black wrestlers, including Apollo Crews and Raw Women's Champion Bianca Belair.
A line written for Belair stating “Uh-Uh, don’t make me take off my earrings and beat your ass”, was, in Abrahams' words, based upon “cruel, ugly stereotypes of dark-skinned, black women."
Abrahams also claims that Belair herself was uncomfortable with the line and repeatedly said that she didn't want to say it.
Another complaint from Abrahams was Apollo Crews' Nigerian gimmick which included the former Intercontinental Champion putting on a thick accent.
Abrahams claims that a pitched idea was for Shane Thorne to have a hunting gimmick and repeatedly attempt to 'catch' black wrestler Reggie/Scripts.
Thorne did debut the character, based on Crocodile Dundee, shortly before his release from WWE in 2021.
It is also claimed that an angle was pitched featuring Aliyah, Mansoor, and Angel Garza which would be centered around a secret that the Saudi Arabian wrestler would try and keep hidden.
When WWE lead writer Ryan Callahan was asked what the secret would be, he threw out the idea that Mansoor was behind the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center.
At the time, Abrahams brought up her issues with the multiple stories, which were almost entirely ignored by management.
Abrahams states that when she and other complained about Callahan's 9/11 pitch, Vice President Christine Lubrano allegedly responded, “Wacky things are said in the writer’s room all the time!”
Lubrano also said "look at the waves we're making as a company" and noted the lack of female writers within WWE four years ago.
WWE Terminates Abrahams
Abrahams' multiple complaints were ignored, and she was pretextually terminated for taking home a WrestleMania-branded chair.
It is claimed that Abrahams had been told she could take a chair with her following the event, while white, male employees were not punished for doing the same.
The suit cites “claims of discriminatory treatment, harassment, hostile work environment, wrongful termination, and unlawful retaliation against the Plaintiff due to her race, color, and gender.”
In addition to McMahon, the suit lists Stephanie McMahon, Christine Lubrana (SVP of Creative Writing Relations), senior writers Jen Pepperman and Chris Dunn, and lead writers Ryan Callahan and Mike Heller.
WWE has given no public statement at this time.
Earlier this year, McMahon returned to WWE following a five-month retirement, stemming from the 2022 hush money scandal.
McMahon reportedly threatened to block all negotiations over media rights and a potential sale unless he was reinstated to the Board of Directors.
In a suit filed in the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York, it is alleged that McMahon/WWE discriminated against former WWE writer Britney Abrahams.
Abrahams alleges that WWE intended to use "offensively racist and stereotypical jargon" in promos for multiple black wrestlers, including Apollo Crews and Raw Women's Champion Bianca Belair.
A line written for Belair stating “Uh-Uh, don’t make me take off my earrings and beat your ass”, was, in Abrahams' words, based upon “cruel, ugly stereotypes of dark-skinned, black women."
Abrahams also claims that Belair herself was uncomfortable with the line and repeatedly said that she didn't want to say it.
Another complaint from Abrahams was Apollo Crews' Nigerian gimmick which included the former Intercontinental Champion putting on a thick accent.
Abrahams claims that a pitched idea was for Shane Thorne to have a hunting gimmick and repeatedly attempt to 'catch' black wrestler Reggie/Scripts.
Thorne did debut the character, based on Crocodile Dundee, shortly before his release from WWE in 2021.
It is also claimed that an angle was pitched featuring Aliyah, Mansoor, and Angel Garza which would be centered around a secret that the Saudi Arabian wrestler would try and keep hidden.
When WWE lead writer Ryan Callahan was asked what the secret would be, he threw out the idea that Mansoor was behind the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center.
At the time, Abrahams brought up her issues with the multiple stories, which were almost entirely ignored by management.
Abrahams states that when she and other complained about Callahan's 9/11 pitch, Vice President Christine Lubrano allegedly responded, “Wacky things are said in the writer’s room all the time!”
Lubrano also said "look at the waves we're making as a company" and noted the lack of female writers within WWE four years ago.
WWE Terminates Abrahams
Abrahams' multiple complaints were ignored, and she was pretextually terminated for taking home a WrestleMania-branded chair.
It is claimed that Abrahams had been told she could take a chair with her following the event, while white, male employees were not punished for doing the same.
The suit cites “claims of discriminatory treatment, harassment, hostile work environment, wrongful termination, and unlawful retaliation against the Plaintiff due to her race, color, and gender.”
In addition to McMahon, the suit lists Stephanie McMahon, Christine Lubrana (SVP of Creative Writing Relations), senior writers Jen Pepperman and Chris Dunn, and lead writers Ryan Callahan and Mike Heller.
WWE has given no public statement at this time.