More details regarding WWE fining Lars Sullivan.
On May 14, WWE announced that they had fined Lars Sullivan $100,000 for racist and sexist comments made from 2007 to 2013 on a bodybuilding forum. Following the announcement of the fine, many wondered how WWE could fine a wrestler for comments made prior to him signing with the company.
According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer, a clause in WWE contracts allowed the company to issue the fine.
The clause states, "Wrestler shall act at all times with due regard to public morals and conventions during the term of this agreement. If wrestler shall have committed or shall commit any act or do anything that is or shall be an offense or violation involving moral turpitude under federal, state or local laws, or which brings wrestler into public disrepute, contempt, scandal or ridicule, or which insults or offends the community or any employee, agent or affiliate of promoter or which injures wrestlers? reputation in promoter?s sole judgment, or diminishes the value of wrestler?s professional wrestling services to the public or promoter, then at the time of any such act, or any time after promoter learns of any such act, promoter shall have the right to fine wrestler in an amount to be determined by promoter; and promoter shall have the right to immediately suspend wrestler and/or terminate this agreement pursuant to Section 12.?
WWE has reportedly known of Sullivan's comments for at least a year. The comments were brought back to light after Big E addressed them on social media. Fans reportedly reached out to WWE sponsors and Mars Wrigley Confectionery wrote back to customers, "Thank you for reaching out to Mars Wrigley Confectionery with your comments. We learned of Lars Sullivan?s comments recently and share in your shock and disgust. As a values-based company, we find his behavior abhorrent and unacceptable. We have engaged the WWE to discuss this situation and seek to understand what actions they will take to swiftly address this matter. We hope this information is helpful and wish you a great day!?
Sullivan issued a public apology for his comments, which you can read by clicking here. Titus O'Neil also took to social media to state that Lars apologized to members of the WWE roster as well.