WWE News: WWE Succumbs to Pressure, Tells Lawler No More Fat Jokes

About a week ago, WWE's anti-bullying Be A Star campaign came under fire about the lack of sensitivity in regards to fat jokes.

Lisa Wright from the Council for Unity sent out a letter proclaiming the hypocrisy of WWE's campaign. Wondering how they can support anti-bullying yet call Vickie Guerrero fat on a weekly basis.

The letter can be read below (h/t Diva Dirt):

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I recently received an e-mail regarding your alliance with the WWE.  The e-mail pointed out the "fat jokes" about Vickie Guerrero.  Wrestling as I perceive it consists of name calling and threats culminating in violence to settle conflicts.  How does this fit with your mission to `Show Tolerance and Respect?'  Are you saying this behavior is alright for entertainment value?  As an employee of a member organization listed on your website, your questionable judgment reflects poorly, not only on you, but on all the organizations listed there.

As an organization whose mission is to prevent violence and bullying, we must be careful who we partner with and what messages that partnership sends.  As we look for funding, ways to market our mission, and new partnerships, we must remain aware of the cultural forces that impact those that we serve.  Furthermore, we must be sensitive not to promote the very negative behaviors that we have spent our professional lives trying to prevent.  I fail to see how an alliance with the WWE will do that.  We must be aware that in our business, as in life, actions speak louder than words.  The WWE may, in principal, be against bullying and the violence that so often accompanies it, however, the very nature of the business is not conducive to a culture of inclusion and peace that we here at the Council for Unity seek to create.  To that end, we respectfully request the removal or our organization from your web site.

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She would later withdraw her statement by releasing the following letter the next day:

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Yesterday, a letter that I had written, that was never intended to be made public, was.  In the letter about my perceptions regarding the alliance between the Be a Star Alliance and the WWE with regard to bullying prevention, it was never my intention to disparage the Be a STAR Alliance, the WWE, the wrestlers or their many fans.

After careful consideration and research on my part, plus some intelligent feedback from some of the loyal fans of WWE, I realize that perhaps I reacted too harshly and without enough information.  I have been reminded that the important issue is the prevention of bullying and the protection and support of those that have been victimized by it.  Ultimately, my own actions, intended or no, have had a negative impact.

In the spirit of tolerance and understanding, which I have been reminded I must practice as well as preach, I hereby offer an apology to the Be a STAR foundation and the WWE.  I also wish to rescind my request that my organization be removed from the Be a STAR Alliance website.  There are often many ways to reach a goal; the important thing is that we support each other on our journey.

Again, I sincerely apologize."

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Now this attention caught the eye of WWE brass as they know bad press when they see it. According to wrestlezone.com, Lawler was asked to stop with the jokes regarding Guerrero's weight, which he has since complied with.

As we all know the WWE had to deal with something similar with GLAAD, which was the reason behind the anti-bullying campaign. The issue here is how far does one company have to go in order to please everyone?

Let's face it, we are talking about a wrestling company that makes money off of ridiculous gimmicks.

Pro wrestling has been around for decades and until recently has been looked at as a sideshow or traveling circus. Now, all of a sudden, we have groups coming out of the woodwork, trying to have their voices heard.

Several years ago, the WWE ran into some trouble regarding content from The Parents Television Council. The WWE responded with a faction called Right to Censor, which was created to mock the PTC's beliefs of the WWE's content.

Nowadays, it seems as if the WWE simply folds to interest groups instead of fighting back. I get that there is more money to lose by not compromising; however, how far is too far?

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying people don't have the right to be offended.

I just don't feel that people who normally don't care about wrestling having so much power over its content. There are hundreds of options for everyone's viewing pleasure. In fact, there are many shows that I have no interest in—in turn I don't watch or care about their content.

All I ask is to let wrestling fans enjoy what they have come to know and love and if you're not a fan change the channel.