Is Michael Hayes Racist?

[WrestlingDude]

Now from wat ive been reading about him lately, he was the head Smackdown writer and this "untouchable" backstage power who basically did w/e he wanted. However it seems lately that he's losing is mind as he was just suspended for 60 days for calling Mark Henry "black". This isnt his first issue however. Apperently former US and ECW champion Bobby Lashley first moved to ECW bc Michael Hayes was giving him shitty storylines which later made him quit WWE all together. Not only Mark Henry and Bobby Lashley though. They are now saying was Michael Hayes the reason Booker T (King Booker at the time) left WWE as well.

From my opinion, i honestly dont know. Whether hes racist or just a dumbass. But I believe it was a smart move by Vince McMahon to suspend him, but overall id he continues like this, Vince outta fire him.

[Sicko]

I don't know but the WWE better be very careful with this and how that handle it, suspending him was the right move, WWE has a huge minority fan base especially Latino's and Black's, last thing you want is to lose that especially with Ratings already down, if more start to come out it is going to be a serious problem

bad enough they don't have many Black and Latino stars now and oddly most of them have been sent to ECW, now that I think of it Henry has been on ECW a lot lately so maybe it is some truth to Hayes I don't know I hope not

would not be the first time WWE have been accused of being racist, I know it was discussed on this board before

I would not be shocked if they try to give one of their black wrestlers a sudden push to try and calm things down a little, lack of Black Divas may end up become a problem as well, TNA don't have the problem, they have two black Knockouts and one is the Champ

but with Smackdown being popular with Black and Latino viewers I would think they would make more of an effort to add more stars, but I think also that is one reason why Teddy Long and Vicky has been the last two GM's for Smackdown

either way this business should be about talent and who can entertain no matter what race, hopefully Hayes comes back a different man but what is the point once he gets drunk again it will all come out

[PsxMeUP]

No clue if he's a racists. In the Mark Henry incident he was drunk and acting like an ass through the night (from what I read). So it can be excused as a one-time event. But if the other stories are also true then he deserves more than just a suspension. That his alleged actions could have cost the company a lot of potential money.

[atomikenrtia]

Paul F. Tomkins made a great point in his "Driven to Drink" comedy special some-years back;

"Alcohol does not make somebody anymore of an asshole than they already were. They may not have been as vocal, but they were still an asshole. Those are the people who cannot handle drinking" (not exact quote, but to that effect)

this is Michael Hayes. If he's getting belligerently drunk, and dropping racial slurs left-and-right... chances are, he's always harbored those feelings... he just never outed them.

[schaeffershawn]

well lets remember who and what Hayes was and is. He is a Freebird. Lynard Skynard of whom the song came fron originaly are known for being racist and if you listen to their lyrics you see it.

secondly Hayes wrestled primarly in the south ware he came to the ring wearing a glittery robe like version of the confederate flag. Now maybe this wqs done to make him more heelish, but as many have stated he lived his gimick.

He has been known to get drunk and be a complete ass, plane ride from hell, steph and HHH's wedding and now this,.

[Mighty NorCal]

I would think its more of a case of him being ignorant, one of the good ol' boys. I know plenty of people who say extremely racist things, but would never actually act on them, or DO anything racist, or even REALLY belive what they are saying. Its just from being from a culture, or enviornment, were saying that kind of thing is alright. Was he stupid for saying that kind of thing in the enviornment in which he did?? Yes, for sure. So I think he is just an idiot. Not a racist. An ignorant idiot.

[EL34LYFE]

I couldn't agree more. Micheal Hayes is a good Smackdown writer but he's too racist. All of his racial jokes have run off all of the fast rising stars like Bobby Lashley, King Booker, and its oonly a matter of time before Mark Henry quits. Hayes should be fired.

[FoleyIsGod]

Not at all, he was just pissed and the ribbing went a bit too far.

Its like saying all Roy Chubby Brown fans are racists because we laugh when he tells jokes about black people. It doesnt matter if they are so over the top, or make fun of stereotypes, we must all be memebers of the KKK!

[Mighty NorCal]

Eh, just contributes to the double standard. I bet if Mark Henry wouldve been drunk and told a white people joke, no one wouldve said shit. Is it appropriate in that enviornment?? No. but its still just a fine examle of being over dramatic, and oversensitive about this stuff. Like I said before. Huge moron, yes. Full Blown racist, I doubt.

[L4L]

He is a racist no doubt Mark Henry isn't the first Black WWE superstar to have problems with him apparently Lashley did as well and left the WWE cause of it. There is also talk that Booker T may have left due to Micheal Hayes's racial comments. To say he isn't racist is ignorant you don't say those things I don't care if your drunk or not. He has been in the business for a long time if he doesn't know you don't say ni**er to a blackman kidding or not by now he is racist. If this was the first time he did it I would say maybe it was a mistake and Mark Henry took it the wrong way but there are too many reports coming out that he makes racist jokes and comments all the time. He is a racist and the WWE should fire him for his comments. That or give Mark Henry five minutes with him and allow Henry to rip his head off.

[Mighty NorCal]

or did they leave becuase they were oversensitive about not being pushed, and wanted to blame it on racism??? Saying he isnt racist is no more ignorant than saying he IS racist, when none of us were there. He is ignorant as shit for saying things like that in the workplace, and as such should be in trouble, but none of know the guy or know how he works, so you cant say he is racist automatically. No u cant say the N word to a black guy, but doing so doesnt make you RACIST, it just means you are really, really stupid.

[buddy_z34]

or did they leave becuase they were oversensitive about not being pushed, and wanted to blame it on racism??? Saying he isnt racist is no more ignorant than saying he IS racist, when none of us were there. He is ignorant as shit for saying things like that in the workplace, and as such should be in trouble, but none of know the guy or know how he works, so you cant say he is racist automatically. No u cant say the N word to a black guy, but doing so doesnt make you RACIST, it just means you are really, really stupid.

first off Mighty NorCal he shouldnt be saying things like that anywhere. in the workplace or in his private home area. calling a black person the N word doesnt mean you're ignorant it means you're racist. and to happen on more than one occasion is enough for me to categorize him as a RACIST.

being drunk isnt an excuse for anything. if it were true that we could use being drunk as an excuse then a whole lot of drunk drivers would use it. AKA santino. newayz, the saying goes a Drunk person never lies right.

[Mighty NorCal]

first off, buddy q56, its a free country, with free speech, were we are free to say whatever we please. Its known as the first amendment. Secondly, he never called a balck person the N word, he said that HE was an N word. And there was NO reports of him calling black wrestlers the N word, there was reports that black wrestlers felt they were objects of racism, not in any specific way, for various things.

I know plenty of people who say all types of words, including that word. They are in no way racist. My black friends call each other that, and they call ME that. They arent racist. They make white jokes, I make black jokes, I make white jokes, they make black jokes. None of us are the least bit racist. Actions make you a racist. Using incorrect words in the workplace, or around co workers, does not make you a racist, it makes you a moron. Therefore, if YOU, yourself, have EVER used a racial slur, according to you, then you yourself are a racist.

[L4L]

What are you kidding me? Are you seriously trying to tell me Lashley and Booker T left WWE cause they weren't being pushed. Lashley was a world champion I have a hard time believeing he left due to lack of push. Hayes is a racist if you say those things repeatedly you are a racist no ifs ans of buts about it, he is not stupid stop making excuses for him. He is a grown man he knows whats right and wrong he just doesn't care about saying the wrong things in front of black superstars cause he is a racist bigot. Trying to put this on Booker T and lashley and using we don't know what happened as an excuse to say he isn't racist is lame and weak. Fact is he said the word and has done so more than once the man is a bigot deal with it and stop defending a disgusting person like hayes just cause none of us were there.

Ok your black friends call each other that guess what whether you like it or not they can they are both black. It is no different than an irishmen calling another a mic but let someone who is irish say that and you will be fighting. That doesn't mean any old white guy can talk to them that way it just doesn't work that way. Oh and the freedom of speech doesn't mean you can be a bigot and racist at the workplace and get away with it. freedom of speech doesn't give anyone the right to put down another race whether he called him the word or said I am more Ni**er than you using that word towards a black man is racist maybe you need to learn context cause saying it the way he did was racist even though he didn't call Henry it it was meant in a derrogatory manner. The WWE suspended him so they must have felt it also was a racist comment.

[Mighty NorCal]

There was never any reports that he said the word more than once. It says he said racially insensitive things. Stupid. Not racist. And Lashley specifically said himself that he left becuase of the lack of push, and the lack of plans for him for his return. Booker T left becuase he didnt like the politics on RAW, and dealing with Triple H. Hayes is the writer from SD!, not RAW. This is also Booker's own words. You guys lap up that WZ news site kool aid bullshit like it was the gospel from jesus's mouth. Please explain to me, if Hayes was SUCH a terrible racist, why now, since this story just came out, are all of the sudden hearing about all these supposed racist acts??? Truth ? or maybe imbellishment??

[L4L]

Again you are wrong when Lashley left the WWE they gave him the right to go out and wrestle or do whatever he wanted as long as he did not badmouth or make the company look bad in any way. Why would they do that? Maybe cause Lashley also had a gripe with Hayes being that he left Smackdown and went to ECW due to Hayes putting him in dead storylines. Open your eyes and look at things and try to see more than what is just in front of you. Sure Lashley said it was due to a push he agreed upon leaving not to talk about the WWE in any way that would put them in a bad light or give them bad PR lashley coming out and saying there head writer on their Thursday night show is racist wouldn't bode well for WWE. Fact is you don't use that word towards a blackman whether you are calling him it or other wise if you do you are a bigot like it or not that is the truth and Hayes being suspended is embellishment is it no I think not. Ok so him being suspended means I am laping up WZ newsite BS. No I don't think so as to why now well it happened now because Mark Henry got up and said something to hayes's boss that why. Its not like I heard Hayes tried to appoligise to Henry or even say sorry why is that because maybe he isn't sorry and really feels that way about the man.

[Mighty NorCal]

Well them being able to say it to each other, and saying its ok, becuase "it just is" is about as weak an argument as you can come up with. And no there is no list of naughty words in the bill of rights under the heading "you cant say this". So have you NEVER used a racial slur in your entire life?? Well if you have, then you sir, by your estimation, are a racist. Lets see...Hayes books SD!....well lemme look at the list of world champs for SD!, primarily over the last few years...

Batista, Rey mysterio, Great Kahli, and KING BOOKER. the other show, that he helps book, ECW, had Chavo, and Lashley himself as champions. The show he books also had Eddie Gurerro as champ, and a black man, teddy long, "in charge" of the show. Do you think someone who was a racist allow a black man to seem in power of anything?? No, he wouldnt. You may say he is a racist becuase he got liquored up and said some crazy shit, but all other evidence and logic points to otherwise. If he is such a racist, then why are the majority of minority champs, personalities, and stars on the show that he books?? doesnt make a ton of sense does it??

[buddy_z34]

first off, buddy q56, its a free country, with free speech, were we are free to say whatever we please. Its known as the first amendment. Secondly, he never called a balck person the N word, he said that HE was an N word. And there was NO reports of him calling black wrestlers the N word, there was reports that black wrestlers felt they were objects of racism, not in any specific way, for various things.

I know plenty of people who say all types of words, including that word. They are in no way racist. My black friends call each other that, and they call ME that. They arent racist. They make white jokes, I make black jokes, I make white jokes, they make black jokes. None of us are the least bit racist. Actions make you a racist. Using incorrect words in the workplace, or around co workers, does not make you a racist, it makes you a moron. Therefore, if YOU, yourself, have EVER used a racial slur, according to you, then you yourself are a racist.

theres a big difference when you are hanging with your friends, who you know very well than at the workplace. using that kind of language isnt professional. yes wrestling might not be an office job or an everyday type of job but while there i would expect people not to use obscene language like that.

yes i have used a racial slur but i have used it against my own kind of people. i call my friends beaners and wetbacks but IMO thats ok because im hispanic. i dont go calling my black friends the N word or white friends the C word.

i dont care if its a joke. a racial joke shouldnt be allowed in the workplace.

[Mighty NorCal]

theres a big difference when you are hanging with your friends, who you know very well than at the workplace. using that kind of language isnt professional. yes wrestling might not be an office job or an everyday type of job but while there i would expect people not to use obscene language like that.

yes i have used a racial slur but i have used it against my own kind of people. i call my friends beaners and wetbacks but IMO thats ok because im hispanic. i dont go calling my black friends the N word or white friends the C word.

i dont care if its a joke. a racial joke shouldnt be allowed in the workplace.

And thats totally fine, and thats what Ive been saying from the start. Racial jokes should not ever be tolerated in the workplace, especially in a huge fortune 500 company in the WWE. And he shouldnt have said it, and he SHOULD be in trouble. My point is, and always was, just becuase he said some dumb shit, doesnt make him a full blown racist, leader of the klan. to say something like that is ignorant, based soley on this one incident

[Sicko]

first off, buddy q56, its a free country, with free speech, were we are free to say whatever we please. Its known as the first amendment. Secondly, he never called a balck person the N word, he said that HE was an N word. And there was NO reports of him calling black wrestlers the N word, there was reports that black wrestlers felt they were objects of racism, not in any specific way, for various things.

I know plenty of people who say all types of words, including that word. They are in no way racist. My black friends call each other that, and they call ME that. They arent racist. They make white jokes, I make black jokes, I make white jokes, they make black jokes. None of us are the least bit racist. Actions make you a racist. Using incorrect words in the workplace, or around co workers, does not make you a racist, it makes you a moron. Therefore, if YOU, yourself, have EVER used a racial slur, according to you, then you yourself are a racist.


I see exactly what you are saying though but a lot of things are coming out now about Hayes

now that I think about it, not many black stars was pushed on Smackdown, infact Lashley was actually sent to ECW that was a move I never understood but now I see why but then again Booker T won King of the Ring and was champ for a few months so I don't know and MVP was US Champ for what 1 year+, I don't know Hayes personally so I can't call him racist but with all these things coming out now it does make you wonder

like I said in another post, WWE better be careful, ratings already suck last thing you need is for the little fans you have left to turn off or turn to TNA

[THE Madcap]

PErsonally I don't think Hayes is a racist, just an ignorant dumbass. I think I've posted this in another thread, but you can't say stuff like that at a workplace. Especially if you are in a position of power and an authority figure to the guy you're spouting racist "abuse" to. If someone higher up to me at work said that to me at a work function, I'd make a complaint too. WWE need to think very carefully on how they act on this. I'm pretty sure they won't want to end up alienating Hayes, Henry, the rest of the roster and the fans.

How double standards in this situation can ever be mentioned I don't know, I don't recall hearing stories of Mark Henry being a racist.

[Mighty NorCal]

Double standard isnt mentioned becuase of Mark Henry specifically, just in general. Black people (or any minority for that matter) are generally much less scrutinized for making white people jokes. Happens all the time. watch a comdey sketch.And the thing Hayes said, if you think about it, wasnt even derogetory towards Henry. Its just a double standard in general, as people of color can make racial slurs, and no ones cares, but if a white person says what Hayes said, he has people on the internet acting as if he may as well be a skin head neo nazi. This subject was readily discussed in the Konnan thread. Its absolutely ridiculous

[THE Madcap]

Double standard isnt mentioned becuase of Mark Henry specifically, just in general. Black people (or any minority for that matter) are generally much less scrutinized for making white people jokes. Happens all the time. watch a comdey sketch.And the thing Hayes said, if you think about it, wasnt even derogetory towards Henry. Its just a double standard in general, as people of color can make racial slurs, and no ones cares, but if a white person says what Hayes said, he has people on the internet acting as if he may as well be a skin head neo nazi. This subject was readily discussed in the Konnan thread. Its absolutely ridiculous

The point I'm making is that it has little to no relevance to this example. Not saying that you don't have a point because you kinda do. Watch an episode of the Chapelle show for example... but for some reason people of all races find that stuff funny.

[Mighty NorCal]

The point I'm making is that it has little to no relevance to this example. Not saying that you don't have a point because you kinda do. Watch an episode of the Chapelle show for example... but for some reason people of all races find that stuff funny.

It does have relevance though. Hayes said what he said, and people are outcrying in outrage, rioting in the streets, 60 day suspension. MArk Henry says to him "Im more of a honky than you" and none of us would ever hear about most likely. Hayes said what he said and people are flipping the fuck out, and calling him a racist, when im sure if Henry wouldve said the inverse, no one would call HIM a racist.

[THE Madcap]

It does have relevance though. Hayes said what he said, and people are outcrying in outrage, rioting in the streets, 60 day suspension. MArk Henry says to him "Im more of a honky than you" and none of us would ever hear about most likely. Hayes said what he said and people are flipping the fuck out, and calling him a racist, when im sure if Henry wouldve said the inverse, no one would call HIM a racist.

That's just pure speculation though. If Henry had said in response "yeah you're right, you probably are more of a nigga than me, you got soul brother", we woudlnt be having this conversation and Micheal would still be in a job. Just speculation though, nothing that actually happened...

I cant even be assed to debate between the N and H words

[Mighty NorCal]

That's just pure speculation though.

I cant even be assed to debate between the N and H words

Just like everyone speculating that becuase Hayes got liqoured up and said some dumb shit, then he is a full blown racist no?? The point I was making was much more general, in the sense of I dont think people would be flipping out all over the place had something simular came out of Henry's mouth. And I myself would consider Henry a racist if he DID make a racial slur against white people, becuase that would be silly. Just as its silly to consider Hayes a racist for saying what HE said.

[THE Madcap]

of course, we can't speculate whether Hayes is a racist or not, but the stories surfacing on a daily basis seem to hint towards this. However, double standards can't really be called unless Henry acted the same way, which noone here can say that he has. I know personally that Henry is one of the nicest, most down to earth guys the wrestling world could offer. (a friend of a friend is a top powerlifter and is a friend with Henry because of this).

"And I myself would consider Henry a racist if he DID make a racial slur against white people, becuase that would be silly. Just as its silly to consider Hayes a racist for saying what HE said." So you're saying here that if Henry acted like how Hayes did, he's a racist, but to call Hayes a racist in this situation is silly. Doesn't make sense, I assume this is a typo?

[Mighty NorCal]

Yea, typo. mean to have an IF in there. And the double standard Im calling into scrutiny is the fact that there would MOST LIKELY (just for you) not be one bit of speculation as to if Henry was a racist, if he had said something like what hayes said. And personally, I find all these stories that are surfacing to be rather weak, and seem very contrived and overdramatic. Is it some type of coinsedence that no one has EVER heard of Hayes being a racist before this, but all of the sudden, now that this story has come out, all of thes "stories" are "surfacing" ??? True, or embellishment??? The only thing we have concrete, besides scuttlebutt, whisoers, and hearsay, is this one incident, in which he said something that wasnt even derogetory. So based upon that, I feel its fairly ignorant, overdramatic, and moronic to claim him a racist.

[jerko]

Sorry I am late to this thread but another "Hayes is racist" story popped up again regarding Obama. I don't know if he really hates people or if he just gets drunk and has a bad sense of humor, but the WWE, IMO, is a little hypocritical here by punishing Hayes. How many of their angles had a "racist", or at least, sterotypical tone to them? Nation of Domination? One Man Gang as Hakeem? Kamala? Daiviri and the Terrorist guy (forgot his name already). Virgil? A Samoan guy as a Japanese Yokuzuna? The "Wild" Samoans? Texas Redneck Dick Murdock? Cryme Time?????? Come on now. I know it's all an "act" but it all comes from above. WTF Hayes wore a confederate flag robe his entire career, I'm surprised that hasn't been brought up.

[JazzyJB05]

I'm not going to judge Hayes as being racist, i'm leaning more towards what NorCal is saying. but there are a lot of stories popping up about Hayes and some of his comments. And also, Smackdown and ECW have the majority of the minorities in the WWE. Look at the people who have been getting pushes and been champions and what not (vickie Gm, Teddy long, King Booker, MVP, and so on). If Hayes was a true racist then he would have left Smackdown a long time ago, being that racists can't stand seeing other races do well. And if you look at it, Raw is the show with the least diversity, you have what, Cryme Tyme as your black acts who have gone back to being Heat guys, and the only latino on the roster is SuperCrazy, who is a jobber?? So if anything, Raw would be the show most likely to get labeled as "discriminatory" as you have a white guy who tries to be "gangsta" getting major pushes and only a handful of minorities. And as for Booker, he left because of the politics of Raw, he was disappointed when they moved him from Smackdown. And don't wrestlers usually get to pick what gimmick they want to use? If i'm not mistaken, CrymeTyme chose the gimmick they have now................

[darksideon]

I don't think he's racist because if you are you wouldn't compare yourself to another race. If i hated mexicans i wouldn't say i'm more mexican than you, the problem is he said the n-word if he said black then there would be no problem at all. Plus i just got finished watching th wccw dvd and and after seeing that i like hayes alot more so i'm really hoping he's not a racist. P.S im black lol

[The Moonsault]

Truth of the matter is, when you have a job similar to what Hayes had, then you have to assert yourself in a manner where you'll be respected by everyone. Calling Mark Henry what he did was absolutely childish, and should have instantly costed him his job. If he was working anywhere else, there is no doubt he would have had been fired. It's ridiculous, and the end result is even more. A mere 60 day suspension? That's completely unacceptable.

[Crimson Bonez]

i dont no if he is racist or has some racism in him the mark henry thing being the most recent but yea i heard that thats y lashley left was because of him and when asked "Do you think Michael Hayes is a racist?" he said ..." i ...i .. i really cant answer that", ive also heard that there has ben problems with him and booker t, under the king booker gimmic and the other guy did make a point how it seems a majority of the black wrestlers on smackdown left lashley, booker, burke, but i was thinking with lashley that theyd send him to ECW to hone his skills give him dif. comp. and then move him to raw it happend but didnt last for long. and i was thinking before the announcement of the draft that either shelton benjamin carlito or elijah burke needs to go to smackdown because their under-rated in my opinion and should fued for the US title leading to the world heavy weight title but after the henry incident i dont no

[danaconda]

Here are my thoughts. Is Hayes a racist? No. Is he a product of his environment? Yes. Hayes was born a proud child of the south in the late 50's in Georgia and from what I have heard that was a kinda rough time when it comes to race relations in this country. I'm going to take a stab in the dark and say that for the first many years of his life that he heard the N word used a bunch. After years of this he then went started wrestling in the southern territories where from what I have heard the N word was used quite a bit. I believe that it was Bill Watts who said that "I knew that I could have a black as my champion, I just couldn't have a white guy save the black guy." That may give us an idea as to the climate that Hayes worked under. At this point in time it was accepted behavior. Add all this into the wrestler personality of believing your gimmick/never growing up/drinking/drugs like a fish and you have P.S. Hayes Is he a racist? No. Is he a stupid old southern drunk that should not have a job with the WWE? Yes, or maybe after some discrimination therapy (WWE offers rehab why not this) he could return.
I do love the Freebird days though!

[Hogans Ego]

Hayes should be fired.

He is a racist, this was just one of the few times his racist ass got called on it.

A white guy should not be dropping 'N' bombs, no matter how black he wants to be.

Hayes has gotten away with alot of shit over his career, and for a publicly traded company to have a racist once as it's vice president, he should be fired.

[TheOneBigWill]

A white guy should not be dropping 'N' bombs, no matter how black he wants to be.

You see, this is why threads like this shouldn't be created. Because you get brain-dead people trying to demand one "race/color" to not use another's "words." I don't care what color your skin is.. if the word is bad, then it shouldn't be used.. period.

However, noone is above the other, which means if one person can use the word and its viewed as "normal" then everyone should be allowed to use the word.

Does this mean that'll happen? No. Why? Because of how our world has evolved as a moronic group of idiots who can't overcome the power of words. Anyone remember the old saying "Sticks and Stone break bones - words will never hurt me." Well apparently that guy was the only one among us who was smart.. because in the end, a word is nothing more than that.. it only has good or bad meaning when we as a culture/race/color/individual give it meaning.

The "N" word as its so commonly refered to, is only as dangerous as one would make it out to be.. because someone used it in a violent manner to downgrade someone else. If it would've been reversed, and "blacks" would've called "whites" the "N" word.. would it be as dangerous and violent? Who knows. But the one thing I do know.. I see a ton of black people calling each other the "N" word.. so are they bad mouthing each other? I mean, how does one color make a word have both a negative and a positive meaning? Surely only us as human can be so idiotic to figure that out and make it possible.

On Topic/Michael Hayes: While I still believe a word is only as powerful as you make it, and nothing should be viewed as good or bad.. when you're in the position hes in.. words that DO have bad meaning, such as the "N" word should not be used. Dispite my own personal feeling that the word itself shouldn't be good or bad, but merely what it is.. a word.. the fact is, millions do see it as a negative.

So for that reason whenever someone, in power no less, uses the word in a downgrading manner.. such as Hayes has done, then yes he should be punished for it. Because its his ignorance that sets us as a nation, as a culture, as a race collectively.. back a couple dozen decades..

I won't tolerate shit like this, as its embarassing. Not just for whites, blacks, or any other race/color.. but in general. Its us as humans showing that throughout the years, most of us still haven't evolved into more mature and respectable creatures.

[Golden Standard]

Micheal Hayes proably not rascists but what he said to Henry was wrong and disrespectful. And should owe him an apology you do not call black people and i'm an african american my damn self, that word. Its a nasty and hurtful word that has a bad history to it. Out of all the words Hayes could have said he said that. Hayes is an adult so i expected him to handle the situation a little better then what he did.

[robbo316]

I've got to reply to all this crap I've just spent 15 minutes reading.
I have a multitude of black friends all over the world, my brother in law is black, my ex-wife is black, the 4 children I had with her are mixed race. All the black people I know call each other by the N word. I have had problems in work with black people, who use the race argument because they want to just sit around doing sod all. This observation is not directed at all black people, just a few that I have met, most of the guys I know work harder than I do. So what if somebody calls someone N*\@#r, this is actually a dictionary definition -

colored person. Also applied by Eng. settlers to dark-skinned native peoples in India, Australia, Polynesia. The reclamation of the word as a neutral or positive term in black culture, often with a suggestion of "soul" or "style," is attested first in the Amer. South, later (1968) in the Northern, urban-based Black Power movement.

So, in actual fact it is not in reality a racist slur, on black people. It has just been hijacked by groups like the KKK. It is very similar to the Nazi's, whose flag was hijacked from the Buddhist religion, and is now banned from usage anywhere.

Remember the adage - "Actions speak louder than words"-Michel de Montaigne
So, therefore I don't believe that Michael Hayes is a racist, just a p**shead.

[THE Madcap]

I've got to reply to all this crap I've just spent 15 minutes reading.
I have a multitude of black friends all over the world, my brother in law is black, my ex-wife is black, the 4 children I had with her are mixed race. All the black people I know call each other by the N word. I have had problems in work with black people, who use the race argument because they want to just sit around doing sod all. This observation is not directed at all black people, just a few that I have met, most of the guys I know work harder than I do. So what if somebody calls someone N*\@#r, this is actually a dictionary definition -

colored person. Also applied by Eng. settlers to dark-skinned native peoples in India, Australia, Polynesia. The reclamation of the word as a neutral or positive term in black culture, often with a suggestion of "soul" or "style," is attested first in the Amer. South, later (1968) in the Northern, urban-based Black Power movement.

So, in actual fact it is not in reality a racist slur, on black people. It has just been hijacked by groups like the KKK. It is very similar to the Nazi's, whose flag was hijacked from the Buddhist religion, and is now banned from usage anywhere.

Remember the adage - "Actions speak louder than words"-Michel de Montaigne
So, therefore I don't believe that Michael Hayes is a racist, just a p**shead.

Must be a pretty old dictionary then because the last time I saw n***** in a dictionary, it read "derogatory term for a black person", give or take a few words...

It's extremely difficult to explain why black people get offended when we hear that word and really, unless you've experienced it yourself firsthand you'll never know or understand how it feels to be called by a non-black, and before u say it, it's not an insult from a black person, the very fact that they are black themselves cancells it out.

Similarly, I don't know and never will know what an asian person feels like when called a p*** and thus I never will use that word, despite the fact that I have many asian friends who refer to themselves and others as a p***

[Joaquim Akaem]

I think in a social context, words like N** and suchlike are generally non offensive.
Most people wouldn't be afraid to use these words when they're out with friends or in private. It's just a case of being careful in more formal environments. Especially at work.

Michael Hayes was in a position of power and trust where he should have been 100% supportive of all the superstars. Fair enough, he is old, and set in his ways, but holding down the black wrestlers and trading them off is unacceptable. To what extent he did this, i'm not sure, but i think the Mark Hendry incident is just the tip of the iceberg.

[danaconda]

Must be a pretty old dictionary then because the last time I saw n***** in a dictionary, it read "derogatory term for a black person", give or take a few words...

It's extremely difficult to explain why black people get offended when we hear that word and really, unless you've experienced it yourself firsthand you'll never know or understand how it feels to be called by a non-black, and before u say it, it's not an insult from a black person, the very fact that they are black themselves cancels it out.

Similarly, I don't know and never will know what an asian person feels like when called a p*** and thus I never will use that word, despite the fact that I have many asian friends who refer to themselves and others as a p***


That still doesn't make the definition of those words any better or really justify the use. It just makes the use of the words seem ok to other races that are exposed to it (see Michael Hayes and suburban white kids).

On Topic: I am glad to hear that at least the WWE has gotten him some therapy and no longer allows him to drink.

Can we start a forum that titled should Mark Henry have knocked Michael Hayes out? And would Henry have been fired?

[stfu63]

Michael Hayes earned what he has; it seems others would rather ride his name for publicity instead of earning it on their own. When black people stop using the n word regularly then I would be offended by a white person using it. I have been around for 44 years and I don’t think I ever met a person white or black that doesn’t hold their own race in a higher regard. That said in his position he did not act in a professional manor, but he was punished, move on.

[robbo316]

I should point out the white version of n****r, which is honky. Do I get upset by someone calls me that? NO! its words, thats all. They have piss all meaning, I suppose what I should do when I get called honky by a black man, is run away and cry to mommy. What a crock of shit! grow up or live in a cave, it's your choice.

[baylaboy]

I think it's irrelevant whether he's actually a racist or not, he should know better than to use that sort of language. In this day and age it's unacceptable, especially from a person in his position. If he was in any other business he'd be fired, so he should probably count himself lucky.