Lars Sullivan's under fire for many old comments

[BestSportsEntertainer]

A Reddit user posted a list of Lars Sullivan's posts on an old bodybuilding forum, and it's really not good.

The comments can be found here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/blxwyg/a_comprehensive_list_of_links_and_screenshots/

Racism. Homophobia. Downplaying mental illness and rape. This is really not a good look for Sullivan or WWE.

Big E commented on Sullivan's posts on Twitter:


Many are aware. If true, he has to bear the albatross of being a bigot & working in a company that is now filled with minorities.

Lars needs to be fired today. This type of thinking and behavior shouldn't be tolerated.

[Yaz]

I am one of the biggest bleeding heart liberals I know. Go socialism! Anyway, I'm kind of tired of this witch hunt culture where you can go back and dig up comments people made in their teens and early 20s and nail them to a cross for it. Does Lars still believe these things? I can't say, but anytime these things pop up its instantly to "well let's ruin this person's entire life."

If Lars made those comments today, then fuck him without question. A lot of people say stupid and offensive shit in their teens and early 20s though because most people in that age range are stupid. This new mentality doesn't allow people to grow. It just labels them as something based off a single comment from period that was years ago. Maybe he is still a shit bag, maybe he has changed, but this mob justice mentality isn't ever going to let people find out.

[#AbsoluteUnit]

I didn't like him to begin with and this just adds more fuel to the fire.

[Alex]

I am one of the biggest bleeding heart liberals I know. Go socialism! Anyway, I'm kind of tired of this witch hunt culture where you can go back and dig up comments people made in their teens and early 20s and nail them to a cross for it. Does Lars still believe these things? I can't say, but anytime these things pop up its instantly to "well let's ruin this person's entire life."

If Lars made those comments today, then fuck him without question. A lot of people say stupid and offensive shit in their teens and early 20s though because most people in that age range are stupid. This new mentality doesn't allow people to grow. It just labels them as something based off a single comment from period that was years ago. Maybe he is still a shit bag, maybe he has changed, but this mob justice mentality isn't ever going to let people find out.

Pretty much this. If he said these things now or still agrees with them fuck him. However if these were just the ramblings of an immature/uninformed young man and he's sorry for them water under the bridge I say. We've all said or done stupid shit in our youth (and if you say you didn't you're lying) But most of us mature and disassociate ourselves from what we've done previously.

Interestingly many people were up in arms about James Gunn being fired from Marvel for years old tweets about jokes about paedophilia etc because they were years old and he apologised. If Lars apologises/no longer holds these views why shouldn't he be given a second chance?

Seems people are forgiving depending on the person. And I find that says more about society than anything else.

[BestSportsEntertainer]

I agree people can change, and everyone deserves a second chance. However some of Sullivan's recently deleted tweets from just a couple of weeks ago suggest he maybe hasn't changed.


Hello easily triggered WWE universe! What are you fake outraged by today?

William Christensen here with another update on Lars! Lars would like to convey to the public that he finds great pleasure and humor in upsetting the WWE Universe. His only complaint is that it's too easy to do so! His quote after both Monday and Tuesday night, "lol".

This could've been an attempt to get heat, but it's definitely not how he should've responded to all of this coming out.

[Yaz]

Some people are just shit bags who like to troll people to elicit a response. Making someone mad is deemed chuckle worthy for them. Again, I'm not sure if Lars is actually a racist/homophobic/sexist or he just said some stupid stuff and has changed but I'm not ready to drag him through the streets yet.

['Ravishing' Ned Flanders]

I am one of the biggest bleeding heart liberals I know. Go socialism! Anyway, I'm kind of tired of this witch hunt culture where you can go back and dig up comments people made in their teens and early 20s and nail them to a cross for it. Does Lars still believe these things? I can't say, but anytime these things pop up its instantly to "well let's ruin this person's entire life."

If Lars made those comments today, then fuck him without question. A lot of people say stupid and offensive shit in their teens and early 20s though because most people in that age range are stupid. This new mentality doesn't allow people to grow. It just labels them as something based off a single comment from period that was years ago. Maybe he is still a shit bag, maybe he has changed, but this mob justice mentality isn't ever going to let people find out.
This basically sums ul my thoughts on the matter right here.

[Stone Cold Tea]

Interesting forum the body building forums. I found a decade old thread on there about peeing in the sink.

Has anyone here ever peeâ??d in the sink?

[Y 2 Jake]

I have.

[Slyfox696]

Anyway, I'm kind of tired of this witch hunt culture where you can go back and dig up comments people made in their teens and early 20s and nail them to a cross for it. I agree. Condemning people for things they said early in life, without knowing whether they still believe them, is a little unfair. People do and say stupid things when they are young and society has to be able to understand that.

With that said, I have no idea when these comments were posted and, quite frankly, I'm not even sure of the specific comments. But I certainly think it would be in this person's interest to apologize profusely to his coworkers or he probably won't have a job long.

[Lee]

"Downplaying mental illness" this was the guy who has had to have time off due to mental illness so I think he understands now. My fav on the list is "Says del rio only got pushed because he is Mexican:" when Del Rio legit said the only reason he was in WWE was to induct Mil Máscaras. Some of the list says "Ryder's cringeworthy" he fucking is.

Fuck bringing up things from years ago. People change. It's called growing up.

[Jack-Hammer]

People can say things that are legitimate mistakes without realizing it. Take me and the whole Sonya Deville/"Dyke" comment from earlier this year of which I still feel embarrassment over.

People can change and this stuff was said to have been posted, what? 6 or 7 years ago? Sullivan would've been like 22 or 23 then, still a kid in a lot of ways and could have done a lot of growing up since. If he genuinely believed in the things he said years back and has changed since, then good for him. Unless this still goes on today or reflects upon a pattern of behavior that's occurred in real life over the years, then that might be a different story. A handful of posts to a bodybuilding forum more than half a decade ago, to me, isn't enough to outright condemn a man for the rest of his life. If he still holds those views and keeps them to himself, then it's a shame but it's his right to think and feel that way. Again, if he still has those beliefs or feelings but keeps them all to himself locked within his head, and doesn't let them get in the way of his job, then that may be the best anyone can ask for. After all, if that's really what he believes, then it's only a matter of time before something happens and all the hate comes spilling out.

[BestSportsEntertainer]

"Downplaying mental illness" this was the guy who has had to have time off due to mental illness so I think he understands now. My fav on the list is "Says del rio only got pushed because he is Mexican:" when Del Rio legit said the only reason he was in WWE was to induct Mil Máscaras. Some of the list says "Ryder's cringeworthy" he fucking is.

Fuck bringing up things from years ago. People change. It's called growing up.

People can change, but I'm not sure Lars has. He's handled the situation terribly. See his deleted tweets from 3 weeks ago.

[smarkmouth]

On board with BSE here. There's an appropriate way to own your mistakes and disown past behaviors but Lars Sullivan has not demonstrated that from what I've seen. When he does so I'll listen. Sure, rando-redditor could have done something better with his time than dig up six year old comments but I'm not interested in talking points about how he's somehow in the wrong for how he spends his time when there's a much bigger elephant in the room.

Latest developments aren't in Lars' favour either. WWE sponsors Snickers (AKA the Moolah Battle Royal Slayer) has corresponded with fans who have voiced displeasure with WWE's quiet dismissal of these comments.

If WWE and Sullivan want to repair this, then I hope they treat it as a learning moment rather than quietly hope it goes away.

[Yaz]

On board with BSE here. There's an appropriate way to own your mistakes and disown past behaviors but Lars Sullivan has not demonstrated that from what I've seen. When he does so I'll listen. Sure, rando-redditor could have done something better with his time than dig up six year old comments but I'm not interested in talking points about how he's somehow in the wrong for how he spends his time when there's a much bigger elephant in the room.

Latest developments aren't in Lars' favour either. WWE sponsors Snickers (AKA the Moolah Battle Royal Slayer) has corresponded with fans who have voiced displeasure with WWE's quiet dismissal of these comments.

If WWE and Sullivan want to repair this, then I hope they treat it as a learning moment rather than quietly hope it goes away.

I absolutely get your point, and I think it is fair. It plays into the point I made about showing growth. The issue though is what is the proper way to respond? Does he need to Tweet an apology? Does WWE need to Tweet one? Does he need to film himself doing charity work with like the NAACP? Does he need to donate to a women's rights charity? Do celebrities have to start addressing everything someone on the internet says? I'm not saying these are rumors. It seems fairly clear that Lars said some awful stuff. I just think that society has taken schadenfreude to a weird level with stuff like this.

We no longer care about context or circumstances. And no, that doesn't mean that if in a month we find out that Aleister Black hit Zelina Vega during an argument that it makes it okay. It doesn't mean that if Braun Strowman gets into an argument with a black fan at an airport and calls him 'nigger' that he isn't racist. I just think there needs to be some ability for people to show growth and change.

[smarkmouth]

I absolutely get your point, and I think it is fair. It plays into the point I made about showing growth. The issue though is what is the proper way to respond? Does he need to Tweet an apology? Does WWE need to Tweet one? Does he need to film himself doing charity work with like the NAACP? Does he need to donate to a women's rights charity? Do celebrities have to start addressing everything someone on the internet says? I'm not saying these are rumors. It seems fairly clear that Lars said some awful stuff. I just think that society has taken schadenfreude to a weird level with stuff like this.

I get what you're saying. Finding the right response might be a challenge but it's still that's still on him. Take a look at how Rhea Ripley handled her recent Twitch slur. I'm not repeating what she said, but as much as it was an expletive bourne out of frustration, she still recognized what she said was wrong and shared a lengthy apology for hurting people. Not "for offending anyone" as Lars put it. An apology for damage that the word caused. And to your point, there are a lot of people who don't accept her apology, and they're well within their right to feel that way if they no longer support Rhea. But in my books, she recognized the damage, deeply regrets it and wants to undo it. "I'm sorry for offending anyone" is far removed from that.

Much like you Yaz I'm not really on board with canceling anyone indefinitely because I believe that there has to be room to own your worst selves and grow past them. But I'm also very resolved in not giving out that forgiveness freely. I can't speak for those who are taking schadenfreude in this, that's certainly not me (nor did I think you were pointing the finger at me, just to clarify), but I know Lars won't have any of my support for the time being.

[Yaz]

I get what you're saying. Finding the right response might be a challenge but it's still that's still on him. Take a look at how Rhea Ripley handled her recent Twitch slur. I'm not repeating what she said, but as much as it was an expletive bourne out of frustration, she still recognized what she said was wrong and shared a lengthy apology for hurting people. Not "for offending anyone" as Lars put it. An apology for damage that the word caused. And to your point, there are a lot of people who don't accept her apology, and they're well within their right to feel that way if they no longer support Rhea. But in my books, she recognized the damage, deeply regrets it and wants to undo it. "I'm sorry for offending anyone" is far removed from that.

Much like you Yaz I'm not really on board with canceling anyone indefinitely because I believe that there has to be room to own your worst selves and grow past them. But I'm also very resolved in not giving out that forgiveness freely. I can't speak for those who are taking schadenfreude in this, that's certainly not me (nor did I think you were pointing the finger at me, just to clarify), but I know Lars won't have any of my support for the time being.

I totally forgot about the Ripley issue, but yeah she was right on that apology, which I think did a lot to keep the damage contained. By no means do I think people need to simply forgive Lars or just forget he said stuff, not that I think anyone thinks I was suggesting that, rather I think they need to refrain from slapping certain labels on people so quickly. There are certain actions that are unforgivable, and that's fair. Take Hogan for example. He said what he said well into his 60s, at that age it is extremely unlikely his views will change. I will likely never not view Hogan as racist. Lars can come out tomorrow and give overwhelming proof he doesn't believe the things he said, and there will be people who don't forgive him. Like you said, that is their right. We do need to allow him, and others, the opportunity to apologize and change though. It seems that has been lost on people.

As far as the schadenfreude, I do think it being Lars, a guy the IWC tends to view as generic big man #659, plays into it. Punk called a fan a gay slur once, and it was caught on tape, and no one cared. Turned out Punk was a giant penis in the end, but I have some doubt that if a more popular star said what Lars had said if fans would have made it as big a deal.

And I'm with you. I'm not gonna be rooting for Lars to succeed anytime soon.

[smarkmouth]

Oh yeah, to be clear I don't think you are choosing to ignore this, that was meant as my observation towards how Lars and WWE look to handle it. I should have been more clear.

You have a point about Punk. To be fair I recall him showing empathy towards his actions and what seemed like appreciation to those who called him out when he apologised. But I'm sure he was protected by the Internet Darling shield from that blowback. There are definitely people in our fandom who treating one star better than other stars for unfavourable behavior

[#AbsoluteUnit]

Update!

https://www.forbes.com/sites/alfredkonuwa/2019/05/14/wwe-fines-lars-sullivan-100000-for-past-bigoted-comments/#4fff2d27604e

[smarkmouth]

It's something.

[Jack-Hammer]

I don't know how Sullivan's deal is structured as to whether or not he was paid during that time his was MIA or what but, in any case, at this point in his career, my guess is that his current deal is probably worth around 300K, so a fine of 100K is pretty significant.

WWE is still gonna look bad though as it seems pretty obvious they were hoping this would just blow over and disappear after a few days rather than gain steam the way it has. Another reason it'll look bad is because it's going to look like the Mars company, which is the company that makes Snickers candy bars and is one of WWE's biggest sponsors, had something to do with getting WWE to hand down this fine. Someone from the company did talk to WWE and the reports have some politically correct statement and my guess is that the actual statement was more along the lines of that they punish Sullivan or WWE would lose a big sponsor.

To be honest, I wish WWE would just stop trying to paint itself as this benevolent, forward thinking, progressive company that seems to dish out harmony to all the world because it's long since become apparent that all the various PSA announcements, community outreach programs and charitable partnerships are little more than marketing. In actuality, I don't think most of the WWE brass gives two shits about any of it aside from all the good publicity and money that comes with it. After all, as I said, they were probably gonna let this thing with Sullivan slide altogether if it hadn't kept getting attention, they're doing business with Saudi government even though the government has a decades long history of human rights violations & murder, bullying was taking place and, allegedly, even encouraged by Vince McMahon such as JBL's actions backstage even while the Be A Star program was in high gear, etc.. Of course, I know WWE will never do this as they have too much to lose and Vince has invested far too much time and effort into building this charade; still, at least they could say they're honest as to what they're all about when the cameras are off.

[Y 2 Jake]

Tune in this Monday to see Lars Sullivan's sensitivity training on Raw.

[EnviousDominous]

Times are changing, and they're changing a little too rapidly for some.

There was a time when it was okay, if not an absolute honor, to be labeled an "asshole". It could manifest as something minor where I mention something that I like, and the asshole preys on that perceived vulnerability by saying something like "Only queers like that". If I was greatly upset by that comment before our reality became absorbed by social media, I'd have to cope with having been insulted without the option of demonizing that asshole unto millions of like-minded perceived victims like myself.

Lars Sullivan is a fucking asshole. Does he deserve a $100,000 fine? No, he deserves to calm his happy-to-be-hateful ass the fuck down and allow himself to be emotionally vulnerable by announcing to the world that he admits that he made the comments and that he's very sorry.

I would rather that Lars keep his money, and grant closure to his co-workers that he's not going to "accidentally" drop Kofi on his neck while shitting the phrase "I'm not a racist, but" out of his mouth when asked to explain himself. I hope that Lars' comments were just petty attempts at looking cool among a posse of testosterone hemorrhaging Neanderthals, and not examples of genuine hatred or apathy toward people that really don't deserve the judgmental commentary of a fucking idiot named Lars Sullivan.

I get where Vince is coming from, he doesn't get a lot of Lars Sullivan's. Giving the devil his due, Lars is a gigantic guy who can sell. Big guys tend to move like tree sloths and tend to display the agility of the trees those sloths climb in, Lars can actually move. I think that Vince hopes that the majority of fans don't follow stories from behind the curtain, and if they do that they'll use that anger to boo Lars instead of finding the decency to just tune out. The WWE doesn't need Lars Sullivan, but it doesn't surprise me that Vince is hot for him.

Public opinion has never been this powerful. Sometimes it oversteps and needlessly destroys lives. Lars is keeping his job and he's attending sensitivity training, and I'm impressed that social media seems to be taking a step back from the nuclear option of mercilessly chastising him into absolute obscurity. With or without a family friendly business like Mars pulling Vince's strings, Vince can't pretend like something didn't happen (ringboy scandal, Rita Marie, Jimmy Snuka).

[smarkmouth]

From Titus O'Neill via Twitter.
"@LarsSWWE I Applaud you for seeking out myself&Others on the @WWE Roster to not only Sincerely Apologize, But also seek Guidance as to how to move forward in being a Better Human Being than you were 9years ago. Nobody is Perfect Including Thank you
@VinceMcMahon 4Taking action!!"

I'll be honest and say that this goes a long way for me personally. I believe Titus has more integrity than a combined fraction of the locker room so I'm inclined to trust that this happened. Perhaps others feel differently and that's valid, and while I'm not fully behind Lars again, this anecdote goes a lot farther in my eyes than being pegged with a fine.

[Y 2 Jake]

Now have him squash popular black superstar R-Truth in 10 seconds and let's put this whole affair to bed.

[Yaz]

Sounds like a plan.

[BestSportsEntertainer]

According to Kalisto on Twitter in a now deleted tweet, he busted Lars open on purpose at Money in the Bank last night.

I know I said Lars should be fired in my first post, but after thinking about it, he deserves a second chance. What he said was horrible and absolutely shouldn't be overlooked or ignored, but we should allow people to evolve and change their views. Lars has already been fined $100,000 and sent to sensitivity training. If that's not enough, what is enough?