Backlash on Terrorist Angle

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

I don't see how UPN has control over which characters are to be shown. As long as WWE tones down the controversial bits, UPN can't complain about Hassan.

[Dangerous A 0]

I'm not sure how much editing control UPN has over WWE content, but I'm sure that equates into the picture. UPN probrably has some say in it since it is their TV and they pay WWE a rights fee to show SD, you'd figure they'd have some sort of control, but how much is anyone's guess.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

I would think the only control they had were over editing inappropriate materials (which they failed to do...) but not over which characters. It's like FOX telling 24 not to show Jack Bauer on the show because of some controversy.

[Dangerous A 0]

Sort of, except Fox produces 24 and then turns around and shows it on their TV. WWE and UPN are different corperate entities. WWE needs UPN's station to show SD. The only public criticism 24 would get for a character would be from other media outlets.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Sort of, except Fox produces 24 and then turns around and shows it on their TV. WWE and UPN are different corperate entities. WWE needs UPN's station to show SD. The only public criticism 24 would get for a character would be from other media outlets.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I know that, but my point remains the same. A network shouldn't have say over the creative direction of the show, as long as the producers are keeping the stuff toned down.

[bobobrazil1984 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.

 

Gee, too bad it took an actual terrorist attack to get this trash off TV.

 

I give it a maximum of two months till they do something else this awful and trashy. what'll it be this time?

[snuffbox 0]

It must hurt when the bubble bursts...

[Guest JMA]

You know, despite the tasteless nature and bad timing of this angle, I'm actually curious as to how WWE will "make things better." How exactly will they change Hassan's character and motivations? When the character was first introduced, he seemed to hate terrorists, and only hated Americans because he was victimized by them--his own people. Now he seems to be indistinguishable from a run of the mill foreign heel (even though he's not foreign).

[slimm44 0]

WWE.com

 

Muhammad Hassan to reply to negative press

 

I could only guess it will be on Smackdown.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

I'm not sure how much editing control UPN has over WWE content, but I'm sure that equates into the picture. UPN probrably has some say in it since it is their TV and they pay WWE a rights fee to show SD, you'd figure they'd have some sort of control, but how much is anyone's guess.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If UPN felt that badly about the angle, they could have told WWE to take it off, and given the circumstances, it would have been a reasonable request. They wanted to play both sides of the fence with the angle, and are now feeling some heat for it, and are just trying to avoid that happening again this week.

[Guest Trecko]

Off topic, but since this is the first Hassan topic on the page, I've read a lot with people sayin how Hassan should've been made a face and a deeper character because nothing in his opening promos seemed heelish. Anyone have those opening promos uploaded or anything, I never got the chance to see them. I just remember flipping once and seeing Daivari yelling in "arabic" and Hassan smilin and thinking "holy shit, they're about to to a terrorist angle! Yes!"

 

So, um, yeah, does anyone have one uploaded? Or know if it's downloadable?

[Vern Gagne 0]

I just read that UPN asked the WWE not to have Hassan on this week's show. Seriously, fuck UPN. They have control of what is put and what isn't put on. If they serioulsy didn't think the same day of a terrorist attack in London a group of hooded men assisting a "Arab" heel would generate negative press it's no wonder their network sucks.

[Guest Brian]

I just read that UPN asked the WWE not to have Hassan on this week's show. Seriously, fuck UPN. They have control of what is put and what isn't put on. If they serioulsy didn't think the same day of a terrorist attack in London a group of hooded men assisting a "Arab" heel would generate negative press it's no wonder their network sucks.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

It's just a comedy of errors.

[SuperJerk 0]

Sort of, except Fox produces 24 and then turns around and shows it on their TV. WWE and UPN are different corperate entities. WWE needs UPN's station to show SD. The only public criticism 24 would get for a character would be from other media outlets.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I know that, but my point remains the same. A network shouldn't have say over the creative direction of the show, as long as the producers are keeping the stuff toned down.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Historically, network executives have gotten script approval over shows on their network.

[Guest Fishyswa]

"Gee, too bad it took an actual terrorist attack to get this trash off TV."

 

So by that logic we can go ahead and call the nWo terrorists right? Come on people....

[SuperJerk 0]

"Gee, too bad it took an actual terrorist attack to get this trash off TV."

 

So by that logic we can go ahead and call the nWo terrorists right? Come on people....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

I know you don't agree that the segment was in bad taste, but are you trying to play the angle off as a run of the mill heel faction beatdown?

 

If so, you're showing a supreme ignorance of current events.

[Fökai 0]

I'm not sure how much editing control UPN has over WWE content, but I'm sure that equates into the picture. UPN probrably has some say in it since it is their TV and they pay WWE a rights fee to show SD, you'd figure they'd have some sort of control, but how much is anyone's guess.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If UPN felt that badly about the angle, they could have told WWE to take it off, and given the circumstances, it would have been a reasonable request. They wanted to play both sides of the fence with the angle, and are now feeling some heat for it, and are just trying to avoid that happening again this week.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Sorry if I'm not adding to the conversation, but...thank you, this needed to be said.

[zyn081 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!!!"

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

No, in no way is it secondary. The Hassan angle has been running since the end of 2004. If London wasnt attacked, what happened on last weeks SD wouldnt be generating as much discussion. Its all about the timing.

 

If all you can say is thank god that the angle is finally scrapped, please just say nothing. Its not just me who is saying that its all about the timing and that its UPN's fault. People clearly havent yet understood my 1st post, so check out exibits A, B and C below that other people here have stated.

 

I would think the only control they had were over editing inappropriate materials (which they failed to do...) but not over which characters. It's like FOX telling 24 not to show Jack Bauer on the show because of some controversy.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I'm not sure how much editing control UPN has over WWE content, but I'm sure that equates into the picture. UPN probrably has some say in it since it is their TV and they pay WWE a rights fee to show SD, you'd figure they'd have some sort of control, but how much is anyone's guess.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If UPN felt that badly about the angle, they could have told WWE to take it off, and given the circumstances, it would have been a reasonable request. They wanted to play both sides of the fence with the angle, and are now feeling some heat for it, and are just trying to avoid that happening again this week.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I just read that UPN asked the WWE not to have Hassan on this week's show. Seriously, fuck UPN. They have control of what is put and what isn't put on. If they serioulsy didn't think the same day of a terrorist attack in London a group of hooded men assisting a "Arab" heel would generate negative press it's no wonder their network sucks.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

If people posting here can perhaps comprehend what the above 3 posts are saying, you will finally realise who is at fault here.

 

I have family and friends who live and use the London area and we havent heard from all of them yet, and hadnt heard from anybody when SD aired. I am not trying to buy anybodys sympathy here, hence my not mentioning it before, but I can empathise with what people in the US are feeling who have family and friends in London and then watched the crap that UPN aired. I watched SD to let out some stress on Saturday and was looking at my watch saying that was a real short show. I then come on here and find that the segment was cut by Sky cause they found it in bad taste given the circumstances. Its good to see that Sky has some sense and made the right decision. UPN had the power to cut it and they didnt so this is their fucking problem and if anybody has to make this right and apologise its them and not Vince or the WWE. They walked the fence to get press reaction. If a Board of Directors couldnt see the potential of this blowing up in their faces then they have no place on that Board. Typical glorly hound media company. Stop talking through your ass metr0man et al. The angle has been going on for ages and people (including myself, and I continue to do so, so look below) have been critising it, but this has just got ugly cause of UPN's not cutting it so as to attract attention and not the WWE. Blame the people who are fault. Im the first to say how low Vince can stoop, but for once its not his bloody fault.

 

IMHO, the UT segement wasnt about terrorism, it was mainly that Hassan cant beat the UT on his own and had to resort to such means. The build-up is to a 1 on 1 match where Hassan (now minus Daivari) must fight alone. If London didnt happen it wouldnt have been portrayed to such an extent as being so.

 

Off topic, but since this is the first Hassan topic on the page, I've read a lot with people sayin how Hassan should've been made a face and a deeper character because nothing in his opening promos seemed heelish. Anyone have those opening promos uploaded or anything, I never got the chance to see them. I just remember flipping once and seeing Daivari yelling in "arabic" and Hassan smilin and thinking "holy shit, they're about to to a  terrorist angle! Yes!" 

 

So, um, yeah, does anyone have one uploaded? Or know if it's downloadable?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

He should have been a face, if handle correctly, cause I am sure that some people are wrongly suffering the backlash of 9/11. He could have shown how its one way for Arab-Americans and another way for the rest. But I knew the WWE would never be able to pull off such a realistic angle properly, and they would have Jeircho making fun of him. He should have said I love America but . . . and the WWE should have provided promos so as to back this up. No feed him JR and The King, who marks lap up. Having Daivari spout off in Arabic doesnt help matters either.

 

I am a British citizen living in Malta and I cant stand it when people tell me, your a visitor or guest here (despite me living here since 1988) so you should not critisize our country. I respect the laws of the land, which I believe every person in foreign country should do, but I also have the right to be heard and voice my disapproval. I would have been able to personally associate with Hassan doing that, especially in the land of the free, and he would have been a face in my eyes for it. The importance of the angle should not be that he is Arab-American, but that he respects the US (they had played on this about) and he feels oppressed (which I am sure people in any country do so). I dont think I am alone in feeling this. They could have done the 2 weights, 2 measures storyline against a current affairs background. Vince should be accused of not handling the whole storyline properly, and not 1 segment. He was unlucky with the timing cause he filmed SD on Tuesday.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

Im the first to say how low Vince can stoop, but for once its not his bloody fault.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

How is it not at least partly his fault when he came up with the angle in the first place, knew enough that he made the call to edit the angle off of the overseas editions of Smackdown while not taking it off the US and Canadian versions, and also had the angle put up on WWE's own website?

[zyn081 0]

Im the first to say how low Vince can stoop, but for once its not his bloody fault.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

How is it not at least partly his fault when he came up with the angle in the first place, knew enough that he made the call to edit the angle off of the overseas editions of Smackdown while not taking it off the US and Canadian versions, and also had the angle put up on WWE's own website?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Im talking about the airing on UPN, since this has what the thread has become about.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

Im the first to say how low Vince can stoop, but for once its not his bloody fault.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

How is it not at least partly his fault when he came up with the angle in the first place, knew enough that he made the call to edit the angle off of the overseas editions of Smackdown while not taking it off the US and Canadian versions, and also had the angle put up on WWE's own website?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Im talking about the airing on UPN, since this has what the thread has become about.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'll try one last time: UPN deserve blame for not cutting the angle out. WWE deserve blame for not telling UPN to cut the angle out, which they had the power to do, but decided not to.

 

Get it now?

[zyn081 0]

Im the first to say how low Vince can stoop, but for once its not his bloody fault.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

How is it not at least partly his fault when he came up with the angle in the first place, knew enough that he made the call to edit the angle off of the overseas editions of Smackdown while not taking it off the US and Canadian versions, and also had the angle put up on WWE's own website?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Im talking about the airing on UPN, since this has what the thread has become about.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'll try one last time: UPN deserve blame for not cutting the angle out. WWE deserve blame for not telling UPN to cut the angle out, which they had the power to do, but decided not to.

 

Get it now?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Yes, Ive got it. As I have posted in the other thread. Check that out 1st.

 

EDIT: If there wasnt 2 threads on the same topic, then I wouldnt be replying to what you say in 1, refreshing my browser, and then reply to what you replied to what I had said when I was replying to what you had said in the other thread.

Edited July 13, 2005 by zyn081

[Guest Fishyswa]

"I know you don't agree that the segment was in bad taste, but are you trying to play the angle off as a run of the mill heel faction beatdown?"

 

The ONLY thing that made it different was the religious overtone's. That's it. Take away that and no one says anything. I don't see how that's right.

[Special K 0]

Christ, we've discussed this before.

 

To preface, I don't really give a shit about the angle, but to say the WWE didn't know what they were doing is retarded.

 

They carried out Daivari like a martyr. They prayed. They dressed like terrorists. They mimed an action that would cut someone's throat. And (here's something I missed when i watched) apparently Hassan held up Taker's head sort of like a trophy.

 

They did ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING they could have besides have a plane fly a banner saying "this attack is meant to invoke terrorism" above the arena. Stop trying to cut them slack. even the WWE has basically ADMITTED they were trying to do a terrorist angle.

 

No they didn't explicitly say "these are terrorists." They knew they couldn't do that. But besides that, you have eyes and ears and a brain. Make the small, logical connections.

[dubq 0]

LMAO - apparently Hassan is going to respond to the media via WWE.com:

 

http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/mediahassan

 

I love how the NYP calls it "terror-themed hijinks"

[zyn081 0]

Christ, we've discussed this before.

 

To preface, I don't really give a shit about the angle, but to say the WWE didn't know what they were doing is retarded.

 

They carried out Daivari like a martyr. They prayed. They dressed like terrorists. They mimed an action that would cut someone's throat. And (here's something I missed when i watched) apparently Hassan held up Taker's head sort of like a trophy.

 

They did ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING they could have besides have a plane fly a banner saying "this attack is meant to invoke terrorism" above the arena. Stop trying to cut them slack. even the WWE has basically ADMITTED they were trying to do a terrorist angle.

 

No they didn't explicitly say "these are terrorists." They knew they couldn't do that. But besides that, you have eyes and ears and a brain. Make the small, logical connections.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Im not talking about the booking of the segment, which isnt what this whole arguement is about. What I am talking about and what the arguement is about is that it was considered in bad taste given what happened in London a few hours earlier.

 

The booking was bad and Im not trying to justify it, but it wouldnt have got this much attention if London hadnt have happened earlier.

 

And I find it very hard for people to prove otherwise.

[Lord of The Curry 0]

Right because if London hadn't happened there WOULDN'T have been people around the states with family over in Iraq fighting who couldn't possibly be offended at what they saw, right?

[bob_barron 0]

Fishywa might be the most dense post ever.

[Celtic Guardian 0]

LMAO - apparently Hassan is going to respond to the media via WWE.com:

 

http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/mediahassan

 

I love how the NYP calls it "terror-themed hijinks"

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Hassan's response is now posted in video form at WWE.com, presumably taped at last night's show.

[notJames 0]

Amidst all this talk about London and the timing of the angle and Hassan's character in general, you know who should be getting the lion's share of sympathy and attention? Daivari. You know, the guy who's actually an Arab-American. "Hassan", no matter what shit he has to put up with for this angle, gets to sleep at night knowing he's just another Italian American who really doesn't have to deal with this. But Daivari lives day to day knowing that he's helping foment nationwide hatred of his people all in the name of "entertainment". God only knows how many threats he gets from ill-mannered jingoistic fans who don't know how to separate reality from fantasy. And how badly do you think he must have felt when the London incident happened, knowing what was in store on Thursday?

 

I'm probably only feeling this because I think he's a much better wrestler and performer than "Hassan", and he deserves way better than this.