'Poor taste': Aussie wrestler's 'slavery' reference sparks outrage
Australian wrestler Buddy Murphy has been forced to apologise over a social media post that contained a reference to slavery that many users found offensive.
The 32-year-old took to social media to celebrate his move into free agency after a 90-day non-compete deal with the WWE expired.
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Murphy has previously commented about feeling trapped by his WWE contract, with the former Raw Tag Team champion last month posting a video of himself in a white prison jumpsuit.
Following his recent split with the WWE, Murphy decided to have another shot at the organisation by posting an image of a pair of hands breaking free of a set of shackles.
Context: He posted this image and some people took it as a slavery/prison thing. pic.twitter.com/zDpXJtVoJ2
— Munroe (@MunroeEOTS) August 31, 2021
Murphy captioned the post with the words: “It’s here! #FreeAgent”.
Many social media users slammed the wrestler for his use of an image that is deeply associated with slavery in America.
Me personally I felt it was In poor taste that he posted that especially given what that image in America directly ties to slavery represents which is a constant reminder that the racial undertones will always exist
— B Mack (@MILANO_MOBBBB) September 1, 2021
White wrestlers comparing getting paid sitting in catering to slavery is pretty pathetic of you ask me.
— Kofi Weedston #BlackLivesMatter (@W0RRY_B0UT_U) August 31, 2021
To all the people commenting the previous picture was "fine" and you did not fine it offensive, this is not about you. That picture was imagery and symbolism of literation breaking the shackles of slavery. If you do not know or understand this read books and learn then comment.
— W. S. Fletcher (@WoodySFletcher) August 31, 2021
He shared an image of hands breaking chains to represent his freedom. It was an allusion to slavery so the comparison was a bit tasteless. Just a tone deaf post, he's not "cancelled" or anything.
— Christian Lynch (@kukua338) August 31, 2021
White people on here seeing shackles breaking and saying “I didn’t think this was about slavery” like yeah obviously YOU wouldn’t
— carlos, i think (@CarlosCYFS) August 31, 2021
Buddy Murphy deletes post after backlash
Following the backlash, Murphy decided to respond by deleting the offensive post.
He then followed it up with another post to offer his apologies for anyone that he might have offended.
“My apologies for the tweet I posted earlier today if it offended you,” he wrote.
“It wasn’t my intention AT ALL! And FAR from what I intended it to mean! deleted the tweet. Once again. My apologies!”
My apologies for the tweet I posted earlier today if it offended you. It wasn’t my intention AT ALL! And FAR from what I intended it to mean! deleted the the tweet. Once again. My apologies!
— Buddy Matthews (@WWE_Murphy) August 31, 2021
#freeagent pic.twitter.com/1jW8kHUjMJ
— Buddy Matthews (@WWE_Murphy) August 31, 2021
He also posted a new image showing birds flying off after being freed from a cage, accompanied by "#freeagent".
Now that Murphy's non-compete deal with the WWE has expired, he's free to explore other opportunities in wrestling.
Among the possibilities for the Aussie are deals with Impact Wrestling, All Elite Wrestling Dynamite or Major League Wrestling.
Murphy is among a host of wrestlers to be released from their WWE contracts on June 2, including Lana, Aleister Black, Ruby Riott and Braun Strowman.
His first post-WWE fight will see Murphy take on Brian Cage at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia for Battle of Championship Wrestling later this month.
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