WWE performer slams shirt design for racist imagery, company responds

Originally published at https://www.postwrestling.com/2019/10/27/wwe-performer-slams-shirt-design-for-racist-imagery-company-responds/

On Sunday, WWE performer Albert Hardie Jr. a.k.a. Jordan Myles posted his displeasure with a recent t-shirt design from the company that drew myriad criticism for its racial connotations.

I will keep posting this till my voice is heard. I’m not sorry for anything I say or do.

Representation is important.

If this is @VinceMcMahon & @TripleH “vision” of me then this is a slap in the face to EVERY African American performer, fan, and supporter. pic.twitter.com/S6Gtg9e4lP

— Jordan Myles (@GoGoMyles) October 27, 2019

The image on the shirt has a striking resemblance to racist imagery of blackface with the colors chosen for the design depicting a smile with the red lips.

![|237x300](upload://s9JrpCsTxf6z5VahKP6MnItICjs.jpeg)

Similar designs drawing comparisons to the racist imagery have been criticized with products released in the past by Prada and from Gucci.

Hardie Jr. was extremely critical of the design stating, “they’ll regret making this” and urging people to change their Twitter avatars to protest the shirt while using #ForTheCulture.

WWE had pulled the design with a new shirt replacing the old one. The company issued the following statement on Sunday responding to the criticism:

Albert Hardie Jr. (aka Jordan Myles) approved this t-shirt for sale. As always, we work collaboratively with all of our performers to develop logos and merchandise designs and get their input and approval before proceeding. This was the same process with Albert, and we responded swiftly once he later requested that the logo/t-shirt be redesigned. No t-shirts were sold.

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I can’t believe that was the company 's official position. They are so micro managed I doubt they sit down and get the input of every performer. Completely tone deaf on their part.

It looks like WWE put no effort in making this shirt and it still turned out racist as fuck.

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Not only is it racist but it’s using the dated racist imagery depicting african american slaves. It’s wrong on many levels.

Just ridiculous the shirt was ever even produced.

I feel like the “controversy” part will hinge on whether or not Myles actually did approve the shirt. But regardless of that, I cannot believe the company of WWE’s size created this and 40 or 50 different people didn’t see it and say “what else you got?”

Uh yeah, check his Twitter.

I’ve seen (and believe) his side, But unless there is written proof somewhere of him OK’ing or not OK’ing the design, I’m sure there will never be universal agreement of what the truth is.

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Nah he’s going off this morning. Also has an apparent email from someone saying HHH wanted the design to be more “toothy”. Yikes

WTF is wrong with this company? Like seriously, how can a company be this big, this well positioned and fuck up over and over again. And somehow get away with it because they essentially are the industry. It’s an amazing business study.

And now I bet they don’t even grant Myles his release and have him job to guys in NXT.

It’s sad but it is so easy to see where they think creative being Jordan Myles Smiles! and them thinking this is good shit and somehow makes him a babyface.

Like I’ve said, this company, for how many people are in charge of things, has group think mentality and they all filter their ideas through the “will Vince say this is Good Shit”

I mean we haven’t seen him since his Adam Cole match. He won the break out had that match then nothing. We’ve seen a bunch of the other guys from that event. Sooo…something tells me they have him on ice.

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I just love how they take zero responsibility. Just like the Usos and Jeff Hardy with their DUIs. So tone deaf, as usual.

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This is probably a good time to go buy the “Fuck Racism, Watch Wrestling” A.C.H. shirt that I’ve had my eye on.

Tone deaf?! How could you think such a thing. I’m sure they’ll address this, just as soon as they get back from… SAUDI ARABIA.

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It’s a very progressive country, WWE is helping to spark SO much change.

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First the deal with the murderous country now this. Never ever am I going to watch anything WWE related again

See you here next week

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I think they will release him, this is too bad publicity. I don’t think they can job him out now.

They could possibly release him with a gagging order but without the non compete clause. Granted it would set him up with AEW but it’s a price they might have to pay.

Has this gotten any major news coverage in the states?

I think they will look even worse if they release him. Better for them to just sit him out and we’ll all forget about him eventually. He’ll shut up on twitter and no one is going to care anymore. This is what always happens. WWE looks bad all the time and they get through it, because something new comes along.

Why is that there fault?