Did Former TNA Champion Havok Ruin Her Chances For A Spot In WWE With Racist Tweets?
Former TNA Knockouts champion Havok would rather be in the news for something more positive, like landing a big-time WWE contract or something. Unfortunately, on the eve of one of the biggest opportunities in her career as a wrestler, the smashmouth lady grappler is immersed in a sea of controversy.
Wrestlezone reports that Havok, whose real name is Jessica Cricks, had a pall cast upon her recent participation in WWE tryouts when a batch of some incendiary tweets came to the attention of the online community. The tweets — most of which include language too offensive to reproduce verbatim here — feature racially insensitive language as well as racial and homophobic epithets. Ringside News notes that the “dozens” of inflammatory tweets by Havok include a racially charged joke about WWE wrestler R-Truth and another tweet in which a Twitter user is told to “get AIDS and die.”
According to TWNP News, Havok deleted the offensive tweets, some of which dated back to 2011. She later issued an online apology.
“I want to apologize whole heartedly for the OLD tweets that are being brought up right now.” Havok’s post read. “Legit, It was years ago and i don’t even rem.tweeting over half of this stuff. The stuff i do remember was jokes that were in bad taste. I was young and very new to social media promo and i was very immature and just said things to make my friends laugh at the time. Inside jokes between us. I don’t really feel or believe any of the things i DID actually tweet. I am a loving, compassionate person and i LOVE everyone. No mater who! I would die for any wrestling fan and i care so much about wrestling and everything in it. I would not be here without any of you. I was young, stupid & immature. I am not too proud to admit some of it was me being bitter for all the wrong reasons, but I’ve learned and grown from this.. i hope this can be forgiven. I love you guys.”
TWNP News noted that the apology was also later deleted, ostensibly by Havok herself.
Havok is a well-respected in-ring performer, winning TNA’s Knockouts title in 2014 and grabbing a plethora of title gold in independent wrestling promotions throughout the course of her decade-long career. In 2013, Pro Wrestling Illustrated ranked Havok as the fourth best female wrestler in the world.
WWE has become extremely image-conscious over the course of recent years, often moving quickly to protect its public image from scandals attached to individual performers. Accusations regarding unprofessional conduct by former NXT trainer Bill DeMott garnered a slew of negative press earlier this year, ultimately prompting DeMott to step down from his position (and eventually assuaging a firestorm of public criticism directed at DeMott and WWE). WWE also moved quickly to suspend ring legend Kevin Nash following his arrest for battery as the result of an altercation with his adult son. After the charges were resolved, Nash was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame and later made an appearance at WrestleMania 31.
With respect to Jessicka Havok, WWE is on the distant periphery of her Twitter-related controversy. Her photo remains on TNA’s website as part of the company’s active roster at present and she has a respectable body of work and reputation in the independent scene. Her fans have taken to Twitter in a show of support.
People shouldn’t be judging #Havok for what she did years ago. She’s a really talented wrestler to be honest
— Luis Valdez (@LuisTheCook) June 7, 2015
Hypocrisy revealed itself today. Many trending #Havok & condemning her for comments. Yet no one condemns others for worse #StandByHavok
— Francis Castiglion (@BThePunisher) June 7, 2015
Was someone put up to this? No one says anything in 4yrs but as soon as WWE is interested suddenly this is brought up? #Havok #StandByHavok
— Francis Castiglion (@BThePunisher) June 6, 2015
Indeed, while she still has some options for a career within the squared circle, it remains to be seen as to whether or not a series of regrettable public gaffes will taint Havok in the eyes of WWE brass.
[Image via Impact Wrestling]
