THE DAILY BS: HOW MUCH CAN YOU HANDLE?
SPARE ME THE BS (I’ve got things to do).
- Cook County sheriff’s officer Noel Lucas is suing WWE, wrestler Montez Ford and a production company over an encounter during Monday Night Raw.
- Lucas alleges Ford straddled him and performed sexually suggestive movements without warning or consent.
- The officer says the televised incident and accompanying commentary caused embarrassment and damaged his reputation.
LAY IT ON ME (I’ve got time).
Professional wrestling has never been famous for subtlety.
But a Cook County sheriff’s officer says a WWE performer went considerably further than he expected while the officer was working security. Now the dispute has reached an actual courtroom.
Noel Lucas filed a civil lawsuit against WWE, wrestler Montez Ford and an event production company over an encounter during the July 6 broadcast of “Monday Night Raw” at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois.
According to the complaint, Lucas was working an off-duty security assignment and sitting outside the wrestling ring when Ford approached him.
The lawsuit alleges Ford straddled the officer and began making sexually suggestive movements. Lucas says he had not been warned that he would be part of the performance and did not consent to the contact.
It’s the sort of moment that might be scripted for professional wrestling. The officer’s complaint is that he wasn’t part of the script.
Lucas also objects to the television commentary surrounding the incident, which his attorneys say added to the embarrassment after footage circulated online. The suit alleges the experience affected his reputation and led to unwanted attention in both his professional and personal life.
The complaint seeks damages, although allegations in a filing do not establish that Ford or WWE violated the law.
The defendants’ responses and any subsequent court findings will be central to determining what actually occurred and whether the contact amounted to actionable misconduct.
The legal issue isn’t whether wrestling audiences expect theatrical behavior. Of course they do. The issue is whether a worker who has not agreed to participate in that performance can be drawn into it without permission.
That’s a different question from whether the stunt entertained viewers. And a reminder that not everyone seated near a wrestling ring has signed up to be part of the show.
Some people are just there to do their jobs. Apparently, that distinction is now headed for a judge.
