Legendary pro wrestler Mick Foley announced Tuesday he’s done with World Wrestling Entertainment for at least three years, citing the company’s close ties to Donald Trump and the president’s “incredibly cruel comments in the wake of Rob Reiner’s death.”
Foley told his 633,000 Instagram followers that he informed the WWE on Monday that he “would not be making any appearances for the company as long as this man remains in office.”
“I no longer wish to represent a company that coddles a man so seemingly void of compassion as he marches our country towards autocracy,” Foley wrote.
The “final straw” came on Monday, when Trump mocked and belittled the beloved Hollywood director Reiner, who was found dead in his Los Angeles home on Sunday afternoon.
Reiner and his wife appeared to have died from stab wounds, a family source has told NBC News.
Foley wrote: “While I have been concerned about WWE‘s close relationship with Donald Trump for several months — especially in light of his administration’s ongoing cruel and inhumane treatment of immigrants (and pretty much anyone who “looks like an immigrant”) — reading the President’s incredibly cruel comments in the wake of Rob Reiner’s death is the final straw for me.”
Trump has had a long, close relationship with the WWE.
Linda McMahon, the wife of WWE founder Vince McMahon, currently serves as Trump’s education secretary and headedthe Small Business Administration (SBA) in the president’s first term.
Foley wrestled under his name and the personas of Cactus Jack, Dude Love and Mankind.
His characters were remarkably diverse: The brawler Mankind and his sock puppet Mr. Socko; the tie-dye wearing Dude Love; wildman Cactus Jack from Truth or Consequences, New Mexico; and Foley, the courageous grappler who flew high over the canvas, like his role model Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka.
Foley was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013, the same class that included Trump.
A representative for the WWE could immediately byreached by NBC News for comment on Tuesday.
“I want to state publicly that while I’ve always liked him, he has just become my favorite person in the world,” legendary WWE manager Jim Cornette said in a statement about Foley.
“I wish all the boys had his backbone and, more importantly, his morals.”
Nigel Chiwaya contributed.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell confirms Rob Reiner’s son, Nick, was booked for murder of his parents.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.nbclosangeles.com ’
