Backlash on Terrorist Angle

[Stephen Joseph 0]

http://www.variety.com/article/VR111792576...11&cs=1&s=h&p=0

 

World Wrestling Entertainment and UPN have heard from several concerned viewers following last Thursday's "WWE Smackdown," which depicted a terrorist-like attack involving a group of Arab-Americans and a wrestling opponent.

The episode aired the same day as the subway and bus bombings in London; UPN ran a crawl on its screen four times through the broadcast, noting that, "In light of today's tragic events in London, parental discretion is advised in viewing this episode."

 

That wasn't enough of a warning for some viewers, who took offense at the depiction of Arab-American wrestlers Daivari and Muhammad Hassan -- who was shown in the episode praying while five men wearing ski masks rushed the ring and choked the "good guy," longtime WWE wrestler the Undertaker.

 

WWE and UPN said they were unable to alter the episode, due to the tight timeframe between the show's taping earlier in the week and its Thursday night timeslot.

 

"We all feel bad about the timing of the segment," said WWE spokesman Gary Davis, who said the show wasn't attempting to depict a terrorist attack -- although he said he understood how some viewers might construe it as such. "People will see what happens this week (as the storyline) gets straightened out."

 

The Hassan character recently joined "Smackdown," moving over from Spike TV's "WWE Raw" show.

 

UPN spokeswoman Joanna Lowry said the network reserves the right to preempt "Smackdown" but didn't think it was necessary last Thursday.

 

"Due to the tragic events in London, we took the added measure of running an advisory four times throughout the broadcast so that viewers could make the appropriate viewing decision for their household," the network said in a statement. "We will continue to monitor the situation involving this character and storyline."

 

Date in print: Tue., Jul. 12, 2005, Los Angeles

[Masked Man of Mystery 0]

Doesn't suprise me a bit, they were playing with fire and now they have to pull themselves out by actually doing something mature with this angle.

[Precious Roy 0]

yup

[zyn081 0]

UPN spokeswoman Joanna Lowry said the network reserves the right to preempt "Smackdown" but didn't think it was necessary last Thursday.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

That pretty makes all of the endless arguing in several threads here redundant since the main people to blame were the Network chiefs. It was a TV decision and not a WWE decision to go ahead with it. You cant blame the WWE for that. In the UK, Sky decided it best to cut out the segment. I havent read anywhere that the WWE were upset with Sky for doing that.

[snuffbox 0]

Yeah, I forget how UPN writes the angles....

 

Now I know who to blame for Dusty Rhodes' retarded booking in the 80s - Superstation TBS!

[redbaron29 0]

I want this angle to end not because I was offended, but because I thought it was corny...so yeah I'm happy

[zyn081 0]

Yeah, I forget how UPN writes the angles....

 

Now I know who to blame for Dusty Rhodes' retarded booking in the 80s - Superstation TBS!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

You misunderstand me and the problem with the situation itself. People are not upset with the angle per se, they are upset with the TIMING of it being aired, and the fault for that lies with UPN.

 

I didnt say anything about the booking, I was talking about the airing of it. Hence my reference to Sky Sports.

 

Read posts properly next time before you decide to reply please.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

Not that I'm condoning the angle, as it was pretty borderline.

 

Having said that, I didn't even really think of it as a connection to London when I saw it. With that in mind, it was taped before London, so I will cut the WWE a little slack.

[dubq 0]

"People will see what happens this week (as the storyline) gets straightened out."

 

$10 says they reveal white guys under the masks, as speculated before. [and not necessarily the same guys who were originally under the masks]

[Precious Roy 0]

"People will see what happens this week (as the storyline) gets straightened out."

 

$10 says they reveal white guys under the masks, as speculated before. [and not necessarily the same guys who were originally under the masks]

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I say they make it asians, just to confuse everyone. Either that, or the diva search chicks....

[Black Lushus 0]

"People will see what happens this week (as the storyline) gets straightened out."

 

$10 says they reveal white guys under the masks, as speculated before. [and not necessarily the same guys who were originally under the masks]

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

might as well be, Val Venis has nothing better going on...might as well start a heel stable with him in it...

[Boon 0]

I can't wait for Hassan's promo pointing out all the people who assumed they were Arab-American terrorists- and that's all I'm going to say.

[AndrewTS 0]

What a wimp Vince is these days. He should have said "HELL YEAH THAT'S WHAT IT'S PORTRAYING! I'M VINCE MCMAHON, DAMNIT!!"

 

It's not like this bending over backwards to sound PC is going to make WWE look any better.

[notJames 0]

So how long before Hassan attacks Paul London?

 

 

 

[Fro 0]

Add the NY Post:

 

http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/49899.htm

 

I expect more of the right-wing media to pile on now that it's on the Drudge Report this morning.

[bobobrazil1984 0]

the "timing" issue should be secondary to the fact that they wrote such a retarded tasteless mornic angle in the first place, hell the fact that they went down this shitty route with a character in the first place.

 

Then again, it's Vince. "Shitty Tasteless angles are what we do BEST!!!"

[Corey_Lazarus 0]

So how long before Hassan attacks Paul London?

I got $10 saying he powerbombs him...

[notJames 0]

Nice.

[dubq 0]

What a wimp Vince is these days.  He should have said "HELL YEAH THAT'S WHAT IT'S PORTRAYING!  I'M VINCE MCMAHON, DAMNIT!!"

 

It's not like this bending over backwards to sound PC is going to make WWE look any better.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Don't forget: "I'M A BILLIONAIRE!"

[SuperJerk 0]

This is never going to go away, is it?

[MillenniumMan831 0]

So how long before Hassan attacks Paul London?

I got $10 saying he powerbombs him...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Put down another $10 saying he'll land a suicide dive on him.

[Dandy 0]

So how long before Hassan attacks Paul London?

I got $10 saying he powerbombs him...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Put down another $10 saying he'll land a suicide dive on him.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

I've got $2 that says he will hiptoss him!!!

 

[Crimson Platypus 0]

This is never going to go away, is it?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Nope, and I bet Vince is loving every minute of media exposure he is getting out of it. Sure, he had his spokesman Gary Davis put out his little blurb about it, but behind closed doors he has got to be loving the press. The carny in him is probably thinking "Any press is good press... ON with the show".

[cameron chaos 0]

This is never going to go away, is it?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Nope, and I bet Vince is loving every minute of media exposure he is getting out of it. Sure, he had his spokesman Gary Davis put out his little blurb about it, but behind closed doors he has got to be loving the press. The carny in him is probably thinking "Any press is good press... ON with the show".

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Considering past tasteless angles (Big Show dad/Bossman, Al Snow/Bossman, HHH/Katie Vick, Kane/Lita, Vince/Trish) and incidents (Owen's death, Mae Young exposing herself at the Royal Rumble) that have not been apologised for, I'm leaning towards you being spot on. What's sad is that he may have that mindset.

[RedJed 0]

Here is a gem of a quote from Kevin Dunn on the whole situation, from either the NY Post story or Variety...

 

"We are firmly in the entertainment business, and that the plot, as edgy as it might have been, should be taken tongue-in-cheek."

 

----And this company wonders why investors and advertisers do not take them seriously?!!! What a ludicrous statement to make. How does anything with that angle have to do with anything "tongue-in-cheek?"

[Hektik 0]

From the Observer:

 

[email protected]

 

UPN sent word today to WWE after all the negative media publicity stemming from last week's show that they didn't want the Muhammad Hassan character on this week's show.

 

WWE had planned a storyline change for Hassan tonight in Worcester after the storyline involving terrorists from last week backfired.

[evilhomer 0]

Here is a gem of a quote from Kevin Dunn on the whole situation, from either the NY Post story or Variety...

 

"We are firmly in the entertainment business, and that the plot, as edgy as it might have been, should be taken tongue-in-cheek."

 

----And this company wonders why investors and advertisers do not take them seriously?!!! What a ludicrous statement to make. How does anything with that angle have to do with anything "tongue-in-cheek?"

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think his point was not to take it too seriously and he's too much of a dumbass to realize that "tongue in cheek" is for humorous sarcasm or sublty. It also ignores the fact that viewers have to ignore their knowledge that it's entertainment and have to believe in the illusion of reality.

 

The best way to handle it is to let Hassan go with his original character. They insisted on wearing masks because they didn't want to be associated with an Arab American. He had to pay them twice as much as he should have because he's an Arab American. (If they want to address the backlash) All the prejudiced media immediately called it a terrorist attack because he's an Arab American.

[Guest Fishyswa]

My country gets lamer and lamer every week.

[Dangerous A 0]

I wonder what the 'E' will do. UPN doesn't want Hassan on SD this week. Obviously if he is on the show, UPN will probrably edit him out. Taker has got to be pissed with this because it screws up his program going into the ppv.

[Dangerous A 0]

Here is a very interesting set of questions. What if UPN tells WWE they don't want Hassan's character on SD, ever? Does WWE move him back to Raw? Do they end the character? Do they put him on anyways, or at least try to?