Pro wrestler Max Caster said in a video posted on social media Tuesday he wasn’t going to apologize for anyone being offended by his rap lyric that referenced the Houthis’ attack on a Saudi Arabian airport that left more than a dozen dead and several others injured.
Caster appeared at Total Nonstop Action Wrestling’s (TNA) Bound for Glory pay-per-view to answer Moose’s open challenger. Caster, known for rapping over his entrance music and pushing the boundaries with some of his lyrics, said “… And it’s the firing squad. I drop bombs. You don’t even have to fly to Riyadh,” as he made his way down to the ring.
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The line caused immediate outrage on social media. On Monday, TNA announced it had cut ties with Caster over the verse.
Caster said he understood why TNA president Carlos Silva made the decision to part ways with him after just one match. He apologized to people who vouched for him, feeling like he let a lot of people down. He had a different message for those who were offended by the lyric.
“For anyone who’s offended, I just want everybody to know that when I do these raps, it’s never to offend people,” he said. “It’s only to entertain. So, in my mind, it’s entertainment value first. And then, if you’re offended by it, that’s your right. I can’t apologize for anyone being offended but just know that it’s not my intention to make people upset. If it gets a reaction, I think I did my job. It was a very relevant part of the show and highly talked about. I feel good about that but the consequences of everything – I’m accepting that. I can accept the facts of that.
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“To anyone who’s asking if I’m good, I’m good. I’m just embarrassed how all this happened. You don’t want it to be one match and then that’s it. You get fired. But again, that’s the reality of the situation. I’m accepting it and that’s life and in life, sometimes, you gotta man up and just accept it and move on.”
TNA said Monday it deleted everything related to Caster from its social media and will no longer welcome Caster at its company.
“During Sunday’s Bound for Glory pay-per-view, insensitive comments were made by Max Caster referencing attacks in Riyadh that killed and injured many people,” the company said in a statement. “Making light of violent attacks is wrong. This should never have made it into the show, and that responsibility is ours. Our thoughts are with the victims, their families and everyone affected. We sincerely apologize.
“We have removed the segment from replays and our social channels and are taking steps to ensure something like this never happens again. Max Caster will no longer be wrestling in TNA.”
TNA’s decision garnered support from Mustafa Ali, who is a practicing Muslim.
“Our sincere apologies about this incident. Thank you to management for addressing this matter,” he wrote on X on Monday.
Caster was unsure of his next steps. His TNA appearance was his first since he parted ways with All Elite Wrestling (AEW).
At AEW, Caster was a tag team champion with Anthony Bowens. He, Bowens and Billy Gunn also held the AEW World Trios Championship.
