WWE Issues Statement After Offensive Imagery Shown During “ThunderDome” Tapings

As expected, WWE has had to battle the issue of offensive imagery being shown during their ThunderDome broadcasts. As of last Friday, WWE moved their live shows from the WWE Performance Center in Tampa to the Amway Arena in Orlando. The move was made in an effort to bring back the big-ticket production feel of WWE live shows. By moving into the Amway Center, WWE was able to bring back pyro, a larger more elaborate set, and the biggest character in WWE, the fans.

Well, sort of. Fans are broadcast via live stream on video boards placed throughout the arena. As fans are broadcast, they are encouraged to interact and engage with the superstars like they would if they were physically present. The difference here is that when left to their own devices, people will generally do terrible things.

During the SummerSlam broadcast, a fan blacked out his screen and displayed a message that said “Fire Velveteen Dream.” The sign was an obvious reference to the ongoing investigation involving Velveteen Dream and the accusation of inappropriate correspondence with a minor. During RAW this week, images of Chris Benoit and a KKK member holding a Confederate flag were shown during the broadcast.

WWE released a statement saying “This abhorrent behavior does not reflect WWE‘s values and we have zero tolerance for these unacceptable acts. We are working to ban those involved from future events and per our policies, any inappropriate actions result in the removal from the live stream.”

If fans continue to display offensive images and messages, WWE will most likely have to make sweeping changes to who can and can’t participate. Which could result in the whole program being revamped or scrapped altogether.