fight : WWE / UPN racism
Professional wrestling has a long history of playing to jingoist reactionary politics.
Recently, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) cut off a man's wrestling career out of sheer racism.
Mark Copani, known in the WWE as Muhammad Hassan, is half Jordanian and half Italian.
The angle of his Arab WWE Hassan character was outrage at the stereotypical portrayals and oppression of Arab-Americans after 9/11/01.
The world of pro wrestling is no stranger to racist stereotypes. Stereotypes have often been used to cast chartacters in a negative light.
Casting Hassan as a "heel" (bad guy) was more insipid though for it suggests that standing against prejudice, stereotypes, and oppression is wrong or bad.
Copani stopped giving praise to Allah after complaints from Muslims (he is not a Muslim).
His matches still invoked Islamic references.
The week of the 7 July 2005 London bombings, UPN told WWE they did not want Hassan on that week's program.
UPN then told WWE they intended to edit Hassan's speech where he reiderates that he is an Arab-American and not a terrorist. WWE decided to pull the segment and only air it on their website.
Hassan had apparently been booked as the winner in his #1 Contender's match and set up for a championship match.
However, due to not being allowed on the show, another wrestler was booked instead.
The HAssan character was then involved in an injury that allowed him to be written out of the WWE.
Copani was then dropped by the company.
Recently, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) cut off a man's wrestling career out of sheer racism.
Mark Copani, known in the WWE as Muhammad Hassan, is half Jordanian and half Italian.
The angle of his Arab WWE Hassan character was outrage at the stereotypical portrayals and oppression of Arab-Americans after 9/11/01.
The world of pro wrestling is no stranger to racist stereotypes. Stereotypes have often been used to cast chartacters in a negative light.
Casting Hassan as a "heel" (bad guy) was more insipid though for it suggests that standing against prejudice, stereotypes, and oppression is wrong or bad.
Copani stopped giving praise to Allah after complaints from Muslims (he is not a Muslim).
His matches still invoked Islamic references.
The week of the 7 July 2005 London bombings, UPN told WWE they did not want Hassan on that week's program.
UPN then told WWE they intended to edit Hassan's speech where he reiderates that he is an Arab-American and not a terrorist. WWE decided to pull the segment and only air it on their website.
Hassan had apparently been booked as the winner in his #1 Contender's match and set up for a championship match.
However, due to not being allowed on the show, another wrestler was booked instead.
The HAssan character was then involved in an injury that allowed him to be written out of the WWE.
Copani was then dropped by the company.
posted by shane at 5:55 PM
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