World Wrestling Entertainment is having one of the worst months ever and now it’s allegedly getting worst.
During a global pandemic the sports entertainment company is revealing itself to be a heel from heartless firings to reports of paying to be deemed an “essential business” and now it’s alleged the billion dollar company is forcing its employees to work during the most unsafe time in America and are unable to observe proper social distancing rules.
As seen in the video above, journalist Jon Alba released footage from a meeting of Florida’s Orange County Board of County Commissioners, during which the statement of an anonymous WWE employee, who referred to themselves as “John”, stated WWE employees are being forced to work in order to keep their job.
Depsite the company limiting the number of employees at each taping (without fans) and taking sanitary precautions, the nature of the business inherently requires individuals to touch each other and flout social distancing recommendations. “John” said he is worried he will lose his job if he shares his concerns with his bosses.
Just last week, dozens of WWE employees were fired and furloughed with the company citing financial hardships caused by the pandemic despite having $500 million in cash on hand.
“My employer, World Wrestling Entertainment, a.k.a. WWE, is forcing me to work the TV tapings for its weekly shows despite stay-at-home orders for coronavirus. I am unable to speak out as I need this job and I know I will be fired if I approach my higher-ups. Despite sanitary precautions, we cannot maintain social distancing and have to touch other people. I request the government to shut down these tapings and enforce the stay-at-home order so my colleagues and I may follow social distancing rules without fear or repercussion of losing our jobs.”
Earlier this month Florida governor, Gov. Ron DeSantis, named WWE an essential business but the company is responsible for maintaining social distancing among other precautions per Gov. DeSantis’ orders.
Gov. DeSantis’ office told Spectrum News 13 in Orlando, WWE was “critical to Florida’s economy” and “employees at these locations” benefit from the business being recognized as essential because of its entertainment value.
“People are chomping at the bit. If you think about it, we have never had a period like this in modern American history where you’ve had so little new content, particularly in the sporting realm. I mean, we are watching reruns from like the early 2000s,” DeSantis said. “People are starved for content. We haven’t had a lot of new content since the beginning of March.”
WWE issued the following statement to Wrestlezone, denying this allegation.
“These accusations aren’t true. Employees know they can confidentially go to Human Resources, not the public. Notwithstanding the appropriate protocol, no one would be fired if they were uncomfortable with their surroundings. We’ve made accommodations for individuals upon request.”
