World Wrestling Entertainment ordered up racially-tinged plot lines for its scripted matches that included having a Muslim wrestler admit he was accountable for 9/11 and one other wherein a black wrestler was held “captive” in a cage, in response to a bombshell lawsuit.
Britney Abrahams, a black author for WWE’s “Smackdown” and “Monday Night RAW” TV series, alleges she was fired last yr in retaliation for her complaints about story pitches which perpetuated “offensively racist and stereotypical jargon,” in response to the lawsuit filed in Brooklyn federal court on Monday.
Abrahams’ racial discrimination suit against the WWE and its controversial leader Vince McMahon claims her boss, lead author Ryan Callahan, pitched the thought of getting a Muslim wrestler named Mansoor reveal that he was “behind the 9/11 attacks.”
One other plot line was to have a black wrestler often known as “Reggie” held “captive in cages” as he was being “hunted” by the white wrestler Shane Thorne, in response to the lawsuit.
Abrahams said she “objected to her superior’s racially motivated misconduct, specifically stating that a gimmick where a white man hunting a black African American man for sport is racist,” the suit said.
When she voiced her objection to Callahan, he’s alleged to have laughed and sarcastically replied: “Oh, what? Is that a nasty thing?” in response to court papers.
One other incident involved Raw women’s champion Bianca Belair, who’s black, allegedly scripted to say: “Uh-Uh! Don’t make me take off my earrings and beat your ass!”
A former author for WWE has filed a racial discrimination suit against the corporate.Getty Images
Court papers allege that WWE writers pitched a scenario wherein Bianca Belair, an African American female wrestler, was allegedly scripted to say: “Uh-Uh! Don’t make me take off my earrings and beat your ass!”Getty Images
In her court filing, Abrahams alleges that the lines are “based upon cruel, ugly stereotypes of dark-skinned, black women.”
Abrahams, who was hired in 2020 and lives in Brooklyn, objected to Callahan in regards to the line, she said.
“I do know I’m recent, I’m not attempting to be disrespectful or step on…anyone’s toes, but I can be remiss if I didn’t mention that [the Belair] scene includes racial jargon and offensive stereotypes, particularly her go-home line,” Abrahams is alleged to have written in the e-mail to Callahan.
The following day, Belair had written to Abrahams that she had told the senior writers “3 DIFFERENT TIMES THAT I DON’T WANT TO SAY THAT LINE! BUT [Chris Dunn, a senior writer at WWE] NEVER LISTENS TO ME! HE PUTS THAT LINE IN EVERY WEEK,” in response to the lawsuit.
One other allegedly pitched scenario involved having a black wrestler Apollo Crews, who’s Nigerian-American, speak with a “stereotypical and exaggerated Nigerian accent,” the lawsuit said.
Abrahams claims she was fired for taking home a “WrestleMania 38”-branded chair despite the fact that other employees did in order well, in response to court papers.
Writers also allegedly pitched a scene wherein Apollo Crews speaks with a fake Nigerian accent.Instagram/Apollo Crews
In point of fact, the incident was used as a pretext to fireside her in retaliation for her complaints about racist story pitches, in response to court documents.
The Post has reached out to the WWE for comment.
Earlier this month, WWE announced a $21.4 billion merger with Ultimate Fighting Championship’s parent company Endeavor in a move that melds two of the preferred sports and entertainment brands.
Endeavor can have a 51% controlling interest in the brand new entity while WWE shareholders will retain a 49% stake in the corporate, which has yet to be named.
Ari Emanuel, the super-agent who runs Endeavor, might be CEO of the corporate while McMahon will function executive chairman.
The 77-year-old McMahon retired from WWE in July amid a sexual harassment and hush-money scandal.
The lawsuit names WWE CEO Vince McMahon and his daughter, Stephanie McMahon (seen in the middle with husband Triple H).Zuffa LLC
McMahon returned in January by exercising his power as majority shareholder — pushing his way back on the board of directors as executive chairman so as to oversee a possible sale of the corporate.
WWE said McMahon paid the corporate back $17.4 million to cover costs related to an investigation into his alleged misconduct.