NXT’s Jordan Myles has entered into a very public heated argument with his employer over a t-shirt that was put on sale that he deemed to be insensitive.
The t-shirt in question had his name resembling in the shape of white teeth surrounded by lips on a black shirt that might depict blackface. The Gucci company recently released a balaclava jumper that was similar in style and was pulled by the company after backlash from customers.
Despite the shirt being removed from WWEShop.com, Myles vented his frustration on Twitter, saying that he’s not sorry for anything he will say or do as representation is important. “If this is @VinceMcMahon & @TripleH “vision” of me then this is a slap in the face to EVERY African American performer, fan, and supporter.”
WWE issued a statement after Myles, real name Albert Hardie Jr., went public with the story. The statement read, “Albert Hardie Jr. (aka Jordan Myles) approved this t-shirt for sale. As always, we work collaboratively with all of our performers to develop logos and merchandise designs and get their input and approval before proceeding. This was the same process with Albert, and we responded swiftly once he later requested that the logo/t-shirt be redesigned. No t-shirts were sold.”
The statement from WWE did not sit down with Myles, saying that he had only approved the design which was on a white background and you could only see “the racist intentions” if put on a black shirt. Myles then published an e-mail, complete with the address of Creative Services Talent Coordinator Landon Baker, where it says that Triple H attended a creative meeting and “wanted to the letter to be more ‘teethy,'” attaching the revised design.
In another tweet after publishing the e-mail, Myles then went off calling the whole WWE system a fraud. “They created this system where you can’t trust anyone, go grow cold, and you grow apart from what you love the most,” he said.
He also lambasted WWE for still employing Hulk Hogan. “The fact that Hulk Hogan is still employed after giving the locker room an apology for being caught says enough,” he concluded.
Myles, who wrestled on the indie circuit as ACH, signed a WWE deal in February of this year and recently won the NXT Breakout tournament where he later faced Adam Cole for the NXT title.
https://twitter.com/GoGoMyles/status/1188297337392828417
