AEW star Lio Rush has issued a demand for Tony Khan to apologise for the controversial comments he made in response to Big Swole’s accusations that the company has a lack of diversity.
During the most recent episode of her Swole World call-in show, former AEW star Big Swole spoke at length about her departure from the company on November 30th and the issues she believes it suffers from, chief among these was a lack of diversity.
“Outside of [lack of structure] their BIGGEST issue, which is diversity. I do not beat around the bush when it comes to diversity and my people. There is no representation, truly, and when there is, it does not come across in the black community as genuine. At all. I don’t know why everybody is so afraid to accept it or say it, but it’s not a good look.
“What happens is, you have this wonderful company that treats people like family, but there is nobody that looks like me that is represented at the top and in the room with them. They are not helping to necessarily influence decisions, but to explain why certain slang and certain word shouldn’t be said.
“There is no one else who can explain our culture and experience except for us.”
Soon after Swole’s comments were published, Tony Khan hit back at the accusation with a controversial tweet where he pointed out that he and AEW’s Chief Legal Counsel Megha Parekh are two of the top executives in the company, and listed a number of wrestlers who had wins on Dynamite in December.
He ended by taking a more personal swipe at Swole, claiming that he let her contract expire because he thought “her wrestling wasn’t good enough”.
“The top 2 @AEW execs are brown (me & Megha)!! Jade, Bowens, Caster, Dante, Nyla, Isiah & Marq Quen all won on tv this month. The TBS Title Tournament has been very diverse. I let Swole’s contract expire as I felt her wrestling wasn’t good enough. #AEWRampage Street Fight TONIGHT!”
Since Khan made the tweet, he has faced a backlash on social media. One AEW star who has weighed in is Lio Rush, who officially signed with the company in September 2021. Taking to Twitter, Rush made it known he was “not cool” with the situation.
“I’m not cool with any of this sh*t to be honest.
“If nobody says something, then I will. Because this is f**ked up and now I’m pissed.”
https://twitter.com/IamLioRush/status/1477076565246705665
https://twitter.com/IamLioRush/status/1477081194084794369
‘The Man of the Hour’ later followed up his initial tweet with another tagging Tony Khan and saying simply “APOLOGIZE.”
https://twitter.com/IamLioRush/status/1477086524193705987
At the time of writing, Tony Khan has not responded to any of the criticism levelled at him on social media.
H/T to Fightful for the above transcription.