Hate to be Micheal Cole right now

MitchKoobski

Just after seeing this, could be VERY bad for WWE this close to Mania

TMZ.com has picked up the story on Michael Cole calling fellow WWE announcer Josh Matthews a "f-ggot" earlier today via Twitter. This is exactly what WWE didn't want to happen. You can expect the story to appear in numerous media outlets now that TMZ has picked it up. It's obviously not good news for WWE, especially with Michael Cole set for a main event match at WrestleMania 27 next Sunday. Here is the TMZ.com article:

Less than two weeks after the WWE and GLAAD teamed up to say they were going to work together to curb homophobic slurs in wrestling, one of the WWE's top announcers tweeted one at a fellow announcer.
Earlier today, Michael Cole simply tweeted one disgusting word towards fellow announcer Josh Mathews. Cole quickly took down the tweet and apologized.
The WWE and GLAAD announced a partnership on March 17 to try and put an end to bullying based on sexual orientation after a series of homophobic taunts was made by wrestler John Cena.
WWE said at the time: "WWE takes this issue very seriously, and has already spoken with our talent about these incidents. We are taking steps and working with GLAAD to ensure that our fans know that WWE is against bullying or discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation."
A rep for the WWE tells TMZ, "WWE has alerted GLAAD to the situation and spoken to Michael Cole about his post. He has removed it and apologized for using hateful language. Michael will be included in the training session being done by GLAAD. WWE takes this very seriously and is against discrimination of any kind based on sexual orientation, gender, race, religion or other."
A rep for GLAAD could not be reached for comment.

http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2011/0326/537890/


http://www.tmz.com/2011/03/26/wwe-glaad-gay-slur-homophobic-twitter-michael-cole-josh-mathews/

GTR63

Wonder will wwe e-mail TMZ & co that they are a entertainment company & not a Rasslin company.Being serious I hate wwe saying the media hate them when they report this all the while wwe pander to the media by putting Snooki in a match at Mania.

Penn

****ing Hell, Cole. What did you think would happen? Even leaving aside the whole GLAAD thing because of Cena, how long have you been on TV?

Idiot. Power went to his head.

Ridley

Seems to be a non-story if Cole retracted, apologised and is getting made part of a seminar. It's already been dealt with.

MitchKoobski

Problem is, he's saying he WASNT told to retract it and did it himself.

WWE told TMZ they had him remove it and apologise.

Their damage control is all over the place. Media will blow it way out of proportion not matter what way it goes methinks.

GTR63

MitchKoobski wrote: »

Media will blow it way out of proportion not matter what way it goes methinks.

That sentance just describes the modern media.WWE should not pander to the media with Snooki & other crap like that. The media don't care about Vince,Wwe or Wrestling.

MitchKoobski

Judging from the comments on TMZ, everyone thinks its pretty stupid calling out WWE on it. Not nearly as offensive a word as they're making out.

Ridley

What was Cole actually replying to? Or did he just randomly call Mathews a bundle of sticks?

jaykhunter

Ridley wrote: »

What was Cole actually replying to? Or did he just randomly call Mathews a bundle of sticks?

ha ha ha Martin Prince FTW.



it was just a harmless slag over supporting the Bears I imagine. But nobody even remotely famous or has a job that is seen by anyone can say any kind of slur.

I wonder if Cole said "douchebag" that the douche makers of America would be giving out.

I need to say this :
F*CK EVERY COMPANY AND PERSON WHO GETS FREE MEDIA PUBLICITY BY ATTACKING WWE DURING WRESTLEMANIA SEASON.

davrho

GTR63 wrote: »

That sentance just describes the modern media.WWE should not pander to the media with Snooki & other crap like that. The media don't care about Vince,Wwe or Wrestling.

From the first wrestlemania there has always been stars from outside the industry involved. Why change a huge profit making organisation?



If, as ye say, the media don't care then the wwe have nothing to worry about.

Ridley is correct- a non story

Lord TSC

Lucky he doesn't work for Sky Sports. <_< They'd have fired him on the spot and the UK media would have a field day...

gimmick

OTT PC crap is all this is.

Glaad and their ill just love an issue.

krudler

I hope nobody from GLAAD ever plays Call of Duty online if they dont like homophobic slurs

cena

Well the Blackhawks were playing last night and they are all playing for a playoff spot. Just maybe Josh supports them.

jaykhunter

I think the African-American Anti-Defamation League should demand Booker T be moved off of colour commentary....

GTR63

davrho wrote: »

From the first wrestlemania there has always been stars from outside the industry involved. Why change a huge profit making organisation?



If, as ye say, the media don't care then the wwe have nothing to worry about.

Ridley is correct- a non story

There was a few years when wwe didn't need celebrities to sell events.Don't remember them being needed in wwe's most recent peak period from about 99-03.WWE is only using them cause WWE are worried that Mania is likely to drop in buys like every other ppv they produce.

dsmythy

Those "seminars" must be interesting. Now lads don't cause offence to gay people, it's bad. Cheers.

Ridley

jaykhunter wrote: »

I think the African-American Anti-Defamation League should demand Booker T be moved off of colour commentary....

I wonder if anyone will get a sudden push like after Michael Hayes' suspension for his comments to Mark Henry.

CMpunked

Heel cole makes heel bully comment on twitter to face announcer a week before he has a match with other announcer?

Does anyone else think this is a little convenient?

DM_7

Twitter

What a pile of ****e

And you can quote that.

Ridley

DM-ICE wrote: »

Twitter

What a pile of ****e

And you can quote that.

You're the Raw GM? :eek:

Charisteas

DM-ICE wrote: »

Twitter

What a pile of ****e

And you can quote that.

:cool:

the flananator

Hilarious.

But yeah Cole deserves to get the sack after that, incredibly stupid. Funny, but totally inappropriate. Any other company would sack him/severely discipline him on the spot, but something tells me he'll get away with this.

parker kent

Yeah I agree Cole would be sacked in most organisations for something like this, particularly organisations that are in the public eye. Dreadful timing with the backlash from the Cena homophobic stuff as well (guessing Rock won't be invited to polish The Rock's balls on Raw tonight!).

Obviously he meant it as a joke and he wasn't being homophobic. But he should know better and he should be more aware of the power of words.

Charisteas

Maybe Josh Mathews is a homosexual though, which would make the matter a whole lot worse for Shawn Michaels Cole.

I'm GLAAD i'm not Cole right now

parker kent

Charisteas wrote: »

Maybe Josh Mathews is a homosexual though, which would make the matter a whole lot worse for Shawn Michaels Cole

He is married.

To a woman too :P

GTR63

Charisteas wrote: »

I'm GLAAD i'm not Cole right now

Nice pun there.Can't believe people were saying the Media were overreacting.I'd pay good Money to see Michael Cole say that to Vince,it'd be Priceless to see Vince's Reaction.I hope HBCole isn't punished on screen until after Wrestlemania at least.

parker kent

GTR63 wrote: »

Nice pun there.Can't believe people were saying the Media were overreacting.I'd pay good Money to see Michael Cole say that to Vince,it'd be Priceless to see Vince's Reaction.I hope HBCole isn't punished on screen until after Wrestlemania at least.

Given Vince and the WWE's history with homophobia, I'd say he would only be upset at the negative publicity and not Michael Cole.

the flananator

GTR63 wrote: »

Nice pun there.Can't believe people were saying the Media were overreacting.I'd pay good Money to see Michael Cole say that to Vince,it'd be Priceless to see Vince's Reaction.I hope HBCole isn't punished on screen until after Wrestlemania at least.

Couldn't agree more. Anyone taking Cole's side on this lives on another planet.

Charisteas

GTR63 wrote: »

Nice pun there.

No pun intended, i'm just saying Michael Cole has really dropped the soap ball on this, now he's going to have to bend over, backwards, to get back into Pat Pattersons Vince's good books.

parker kent

the flananator wrote: »

Couldn't agree more. Anyone taking Cole's side on this lives on another planet.

Well people were defending Cena's homophobic material as well, so I'm not shocked. But I agree you are correct!

spiralism

Wrestlezone has it that it has generated real backstage heat towards Cole and that Vince/Dunn would have fired him there and then if he wasn't in the main event at mania

GTR63

Its on a few other sites too,even read he is a "Mark for Himself".I can see Vince turning on him very quickly,even though a lot of his character is vince through the headset.

MitchKoobski

He was pretty toned down on Raw I thought, apart from the Lawler segment he generally stuck to the stuff he's be doing for years.

parker kent

Surprised for many reasons they didn't add a stip that the loser of the match leaves the WWE. Could have been an on-screen reason to have him off air for a bit.

DM_7

Heat on Cole eh?

I seriously doubt it, the guy is probably in line for a massive pay check. Its the week leading to mania and WWE want you, I and everyone to think Cole is an dick so we will be more inclined to buy mania and see Lawler kick his behind.

Ridley

spiralism wrote: »

Wrestlezone has it that it has generated real backstage heat towards Cole and that Vince/Dunn would have fired him there and then if he wasn't in the main event at mania

Did the website say main event? Just because Michael Cole says it doesn't make it true.

jaykhunter

Just watched some court-room schlock with Matthew McConnehy (sp?). Ryan Phillipe drops a big f-bomb (that word that rhymes with maggot) which is reiterated by the guy reading the statement....But I don't hear GLAAD getting their manties in a twist about it! :rolleyes:....:mad:

the flananator

jaykhunter wrote: »

Just watched some court-room schlock with Matthew McConnehy (sp?). Ryan Phillipe drops a big f-bomb (that word that rhymes with maggot) which is reiterated by the guy reading the statement....But I don't hear GLAAD getting their manties in a twist about it! :rolleyes:....:mad:

Are you for real? If you can't distinguish between these two very different contexts then I don't know what to say to you!

parker kent

jaykhunter wrote: »

Just watched some court-room schlock with Matthew McConnehy (sp?). Ryan Phillipe drops a big f-bomb (that word that rhymes with maggot) which is reiterated by the guy reading the statement....But I don't hear GLAAD getting their manties in a twist about it! :rolleyes:....:mad:

GLAAD have every right to complain about what has been on WWE TV. So we shouldn't make it seem like they are being spoilsports or overly sensitive.

Also there is a colossal difference between the two contexts you give.

Rjd2

jaykhunter wrote: »

Just watched some court-room schlock with Matthew McConnehy (sp?). :rolleyes:....:mad:

Unless a women makes you, as a man you have no excuse to be watching any film with someone as awful as Mc Conny.:pac:

jaykhunter

parker kent wrote: »

GLAAD have every right to complain about what has been on WWE TV. So we shouldn't make it seem like they are being spoilsports or overly sensitive. Also there is a colossal difference between the two contexts you give.

I disagree, I think GLAAD should either complain about every damn occurance of homophobic slurs in every facet of the media, like a$$holes, or STFU like everybody else does.

I'm mainly angry at them for shamelessly using this to get free publicity off of WWE during their most visible few weeks off the year. I don't think the timing is a coincidence. Cena's been making homophobic slurs for years. Remember when he ran down the Nexus, insinuating Gabriel was gay - did GLAAD kick up a fuss? Nah, better wait until when Rock and Cena, mammoths in the wrestling industry, say something.

It's no coincidence that other leeches of the wrestling industry have come out of the woodwork at Mania to get some free exposure (eg Chyna)

I don't hear the Anti-Racism League complaining about WWE making fun of sheamus' skin colour. :pac: How about the IBS-sufferers when Cena made jokes about Miz making "poopy noises"? Where does it bloody end!

Rjd2 wrote: »

Unless a women makes you, as a man you have no excuse to be watching any film with someone as awful as Mc Conny.:pac:

Damn straight. I'm not Super-boyfriend for nothing And now i've got this in the back pocket when it's time to watch....



also featuring Kevin Nash, Sycho Sid and WCW's Glacier :pac::pac:

the flananator

jaykhunter wrote: »

I disagree, I think GLAAD should either complain about every damn occurance of homophobic slurs in every facet of the media, like a$$holes, or STFU like everybody else does.

I'm mainly angry at them for shamelessly using this to get free publicity off of WWE during their most visible few weeks off the year. I don't think the timing is a coincidence. Cena's been making homophobic slurs for years. Remember when he ran down the Nexus, insinuating Gabriel was gay - did GLAAD kick up a fuss? Nah, better wait until when Rock and Cena, mammoths in the wrestling industry, say something.

It's no coincidence that other leeches of the wrestling industry have come out of the woodwork at Mania to get some free exposure (eg Chyna)

I don't hear the Anti-Racism League complaining about WWE making fun of sheamus' skin colour. :pac: How about the IBS-sufferers when Cena made jokes about Miz making "poopy noises"? Where does it bloody end!



Damn straight. I'm not Super-boyfriend for nothing And now i've got this in the back pocket when it's time to watch....



also featuring Kevin Nash, Sycho Sid and WCW's Glacier :pac::pac:

Theres no much wrong with this post! Comparing the plight of Chyna, Sheamus or IBS sufferers to that of the gay community is so ridiculous I can only assume your posts in this thread are a wind-up. The later have legitimate civil-rights and discriminatory grievances, the former do not.

A high-ranking WWE official called another WWE employee a 'faggot' in the public realm, its absurd the guy still has a job. It doesn't matter whether its Wrestlemania season or not, GLAAD are absolutely right to speak up.

I can't believe I'm defending gay rights on a pro-wrestling forum! :eek:

Wile E. Coyote

Golddust just called one of his followers on twitter a 'turd burglar'. Will there be the same uproar?

parker kent

jaykhunter wrote: »

I disagree, I think GLAAD should either complain about every damn occurance of homophobic slurs in every facet of the media, like a$$holes, or STFU like everybody else does.

I'm mainly angry at them for shamelessly using this to get free publicity off of WWE during their most visible few weeks off the year. I don't think the timing is a coincidence. Cena's been making homophobic slurs for years. Remember when he ran down the Nexus, insinuating Gabriel was gay - did GLAAD kick up a fuss? Nah, better wait until when Rock and Cena, mammoths in the wrestling industry, say something.

It's no coincidence that other leeches of the wrestling industry have come out of the woodwork at Mania to get some free exposure (eg Chyna)

I don't hear the Anti-Racism League complaining about WWE making fun of sheamus' skin colour. :pac: How about the IBS-sufferers when Cena made jokes about Miz making "poopy noises"? Where does it bloody end!

You could also say that they only found out about it because it is the time of year when WWE is most heavily publicised. Cena had ramped up the homophobic references over the past few months. Regardless of how or why, it is only right that somebody complained about Cena's homophobic material. It has been wrong all along (as I've said for a long time too) and it is sad it wasn't highlighted before. But it is good that it has been highlighted now.

Whether people like Chyna are being idiots or not has little to do with GLAAD. And I know you're joking, but Sheamus being pale is not a matter of racism!

jaykhunter

Yes maybe it is because wrestling is most visible that GLAAD saw it and complained. I think it's more sinister though, in that I think they're just angling for free publicity...

Wrestling is built on stereotypes and ignorant prejudice and I believe GLAAD have no more 'right' to complain more than blacks (portrayed as criminals), asians (happy, ignorant, non-english speaking idiots) or any other minority who feel they are constantly made light of by the WWE. But they don't give out, but GLAAD are championed for doing so? Everyone who isn't a tall, built, white male gets a slagging, so I'm of the mindset of "jeez, just take wrestling for what it is".

Even Big Show, who fits the criteria, was/is mercilessly made fun of about his weight. As is Sheamus, who gets made fun of his foreign accent and different skin colour (definition of racism, lol!). The Divas are constantly made fun of, whether weight or talent. My point is that everyone is made fun of, so I don't think homosexuals should get special treatment. I don't think it's anything to get upset about or out of the ordinary.

Of course with Shambo i'm taking it to an absurd degree but I'm trying to show you that everyone, not just the gays, is made fun of.

Maybe I don't have a problem with it because there's no actual intolerance/hate of gays etc when Cena or whoever uses homophobic slurs as a generic derogatory term - it's just that, a schoolyard taunt that's instantly forgotten about. I think those terms are so overused and have no genuine venom associated with it that it should be taken as such.

IMO each case of slur should be taken on context and intonation, and in Cena's case I think it's nothing more than padding in a poorly-written promo. Wrestling is a relatively low-brow variety-show programme with bad actors and should be taken with a large bowl of salt.

I know we don't agree, but you get my point, right?

the flananator

jaykhunter wrote: »

Yes maybe it is because wrestling is most visible that GLAAD saw it and complained. I think it's more sinister though, in that I think they're just angling for free publicity...

Wrestling is built on stereotypes and ignorant prejudice and I believe GLAAD have no more 'right' to complain more than blacks (portrayed as criminals), asians (happy, ignorant, non-english speaking idiots) or any other minority who feel they are constantly made light of by the WWE. But they don't give out, but GLAAD are championed for doing so? Everyone who isn't a tall, built, white male gets a slagging, so I'm of the mindset of "jeez, just take wrestling for what it is".

Even Big Show, who fits the criteria, was/is mercilessly made fun of about his weight. As is Sheamus, who gets made fun of his foreign accent and different skin colour (definition of racism, lol!). The Divas are constantly made fun of, whether weight or talent. My point is that everyone is made fun of, so I don't think homosexuals should get special treatment. I don't think it's anything to get upset about or out of the ordinary.

Of course with Shambo i'm taking it to an absurd degree but I'm trying to show you that everyone, not just the gays, is made fun of.

Maybe I don't have a problem with it because there's no actual intolerance/hate of gays etc when Cena or whoever uses homophobic slurs as a generic derogatory term - it's just that, a schoolyard taunt that's instantly forgotten about. I think those terms are so overused and have no genuine venom associated with it that it should be taken as such.

IMO each case of slur should be taken on context and intonation, and in Cena's case I think it's nothing more than padding in a poorly-written promo. Wrestling is a relatively low-brow variety-show programme with bad actors and should be taken with a large bowl of salt.

I know we don't agree, but you get my point, right?

I'm afraid I don't take your point. Just because WWE often blasts its Divas over their appearance (like the whole Mickie James 'piggie' stuff) doesn't make its homophobic content acceptable...the wrongness of one doesn't justify the wrongness of the other.

Cena is idolized by many, many thousands of young boys world-wide. It absolutely morally unacceptable and irresponsible for the WWE to script homophobic content in his promos, all it does is serve to breed homophobia in the next generation at a time where slow but steady progress is being made to weed this sort of stuff out.

jaykhunter

I meant that you just understand my point of view, but not necessarily agree with it. (All i can ever ask for...on an irish forum!!)

I don't mean that any descriminatory talk is acceptable -- it's all wrong. The stereotypes of blacks, asians, women etc is wrong as is far more damaging than any Cena rap. It shouldn't be done in the first place. What I don't appreciate is ONLY GLAAD is partnering with WWE (and in the process, getting so much free publicity). GLAAD shouldn't get preferential treatment with WWE since so many other minorities/pro-tolerance groups don't. It's not just the gays who get made light of in the WWE.

I also don't see slagging someone using physical, mental, professional etc slurs to be any less hurtful/damaging etc than sexual slurs because nobody that's actually gay gets gay-bashed. Say eg someone called Orlando Jordan the F word on TV - that'd be completely unacceptable, because there'd be truth and venom in the words.

I get what you're saying about the young impressionable minds watching wrestling being made to think that homophobia is ok/shouldn't be encouraged like WWE are doing but honestly I don't think that's the case. I feel that kids view in it's context. Rock isn't gay, and Cena's just making fun of him in a school-yard level forgettable manner. The words have no venom or ill-will and is just synonms for douchebag.

I felt Cena's rap came off as "you left WWE to play terrible parts in terrible movies" or "this is what you had to do to get an acting gig eg dress up like a woman, be a tooth fairy" rather than stay with the WWE.

parker kent

jaykhunter wrote: »

I feel that kids view in it's context. Rock isn't gay, and Cena's just making fun of him in a school-yard level forgettable manner. The words have no venom or ill-will and is just synonms for douchebag

This is exactly the point though. It should not be seen as normal school yard stuff. Gay is NOT a synonym for douchebag. Kids watching it should not see it used in such a casual manner. Nor should adult fans either. It is cheap, lazy and pathetic.

As are the other lazy generalisations. They are insulting. Wrestling needs to move past it. As they should move past misogynistic stuff. GLAAD should not be mocked because they actually spoke out. Nor are they the first.

Edit: How do you know GLAAD don't complain about every facet of homophobia in the media they become aware of? Context is also important. There can be homophobic material in various media but we are meant to realise that in certain contexts. Whereas Cena is the lead face in a PG wrestling company. And just because others are homophobic, sexist, racist etc, it still doesn't give the WWE carte blance to do so.

Ridley

http://glaadblog.org/2011/03/17/wwe-to-partner-with-glaad-on-anti-bullying-messages/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+glaadblog+%28GLAADBlog.org%29

And I quote:

We are very much looking forward to developing our relationship with WWE, and we thank them both for hearing our message loud and clear, and for planning to send an anti-bullying message of their own.

It's understandable if GLAAD would kick up a fuss. A week later. To be fair they're (supposedly) reacting to complaints they get and haven't even made a big stink about it. The seminar's (supposedly) enough for them.

Last time GLAAD had anything to say about WWE was when WWE (supposedly) manipulated them into supporting Billy and Chuck's 'marriage'.