World Wrestling Entertainment settles lawsuit against Parents Television Council

World Wrestling Entertainment ^ | July 4th, 2002

[StoneColdGOP]

WWE settles lawsuit against PTC

WWE has successfully settled its lawsuit against the Parents Television Council. The first result of that settlement is a retraction letter that was signed by Brent Bozell on behalf of the PTC and its sister organization, the Media Research Center. This retraction letter, per the settlement agreement, was posted on the PTC Web site on Wednesday, July 3, and will remain there for six months. A formal announcement about WWE's settlement with the PTC will be made on Monday, and more information will be provided at that time.

PTC RETRACTION TO WWE AND TO THE PUBLIC

Media Research Center (MRC), Parents Television Council (PTC), Dr. Delores Tucker, Mark Honig and I have in the past made statements regarding so-called wrestling deaths-children killed by other children alleged to be mimicking "professional wrestling" moves they saw on television. We made such statements to members of MRC and PTC, the media, advertisers on World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Smackdown! program, retailers that sell WWE-related toys and merchandise, public officials and the public. MRC and PTC also produced a videotape as part of a fundraising campaign in connection with its "National Campaign to Clean Up TV Now!", which advanced the notion that the murder of Tiffany Eunick was caused by the influence of professional wrestling on Lionel Tate. The videotape included interviews with Lionel Tate's lawyer advancing the notion that the murder of Tiffany Eunick, the victim, was directly caused by the impact that professional wrestling had on Lionel Tate.

We based our statements on media reports and source information. We now believe, based on extensive investigation and facts which have come to light since making those statements, that it was wrong for MRC, PTC, their spokespersons and myself to have said anything that could be construed as blaming WWE or any of its programs for the deaths of the children. Simply put, it was premature to reach that conclusion when we did, and there is now ample evidence to show that conclusion was incorrect. I now believe that professional wrestling played no role in the murder of Tiffany Eunick, which was a part of our "Clean Up TV Now!" campaign, and am equally convinced that it was incorrect and wrong to have blamed WWE or any of its programs for the deaths of the other children.

Because of our statements, PTC, MRC and the WWE have been in litigation since November 2000. WWE vigorously advanced its position that neither it, nor "professional wrestling" lead to these deaths. WWE also contended that MRC, PTC, their spokespersons and I had misrepresented the number of advertisers who withdrew support from WWE's Smackdown! television program after receiving communications from the PTC, some of which regrettably connected the WWE and Smackdown! to the deaths of children. As such, WWE exercised its right to initiate this litigation, during which facts came to light that prompted me to make this statement.

By this retraction, I want to be clear that WWE was correct in pointing out that various statements made by MRC, PTC and me were inaccurate concerning the identity and number of WWE Smackdown! advertisers who withdrew support from the program. Many of the companies we stated had "withdrawn" or pulled their support had never, in fact, advertised on Smackdown! nor had any plan to advertise on Smackdown! Again, we regret this error and retract any such misleading statements.

Finally, concerning the statements about child wrestling deaths, it was wrong to have stated or implied that WWE or any of its programs caused these tragic deaths. Specifically concerning the Lionel Tate case, recent developments lead us to believe that others and we were given, and relied upon, false information provided by parties close to the case. The information that we were given and relied upon may have been designed to make a national example of the Florida murder trial, pinning the blame on WWE. For example, we were told by a source that Lionel Tate was watching a WWE program when he assaulted Tiffany Eunick. In fact, Lionel Tate was watching the "Flintstones" and a cartoon entitled "Cow and Chicken." We were also told, by a source, that Lionel Tate killed Tiffany Eunick while executing a wrestling move unique to a WWE character called the "Stone Cold Stunner." We have since learned that this was not true, nor was there any evidence that it was true.

It is now well documented that after the Tate trial concluded, the presiding Judge said that it was "inconceivable" that Tiffany Eunick's injuries were caused by Lionel Tate mimicking wrestling moves. Indeed, since the trial ended, Lionel Tate's new lawyers have filed court papers in which they admit that the "wrestling defense" was, in their words, "bogus." Given these facts, WWE was within its rights to be angry at the MRC, PTC, their spokespersons and I for contacting WWE's advertisers to go beyond complaining about WWE content but passing along accusations which we now know were false. Because I feel a simple retraction is not sufficient, I have personally extended my apology to Vince McMahon and the WWE on behalf of MRC, PTC, Dr. Tucker, Mr. Honig and me. Through this letter, I now make this apology public and specifically directed to the advertising community that has in the past, is currently or may in the future consider advertising or sponsoring WWE programming.

The PTC can have its concern with the content of WWE's television programming - though these concerns have been reduced significantly over the past years as a reflection of WWE's changed standards. But nowhere in that debate, including in the correspondence and statements to the advertising community, should there have been any discussion of "wrestling" deaths. I regret this happening, it wasn't fair to WWE. And I say this emphatically: Please disregard what others and we have said in the past about the Florida "wrestling" death. Neither "wrestling" in general, nor WWE specifically, had anything to do with it. Of that I am certain.

Sincerely,

L. Brent Bozell, III

cc: Vince and Linda McMahon

[StoneColdGOP]

Victory!

[Illbay]

Wrestling is still a boil on the buttocks of western civilization, though. A thousand retraction letters won't change the truth.

[IronJack]

Victory!

For whom???!!!! MRC was probably stupid to jump to these conclusions, but there is nothing on earth stupider than rasslin'. Unless it's a day-old Democrat watching rasslin'.

[Bella_Bru]

Wrestling ping!

[Aedammair]

I remember watching wrestling with my father and brother on Saturday afternoons when I was little. It was great fun. At that time they even had a midgets match. The one midget I remember went by the name of Chief Little Beaver, and he had a mohawk haircut. My brothers and I would be rolling on the floor laughing, my father too. And I do watch Smackdown from time to time just to see the contemporary rivalries.

One thing for sure, the difference between WWF(E), then and now, is the incredible athleticism that these contemporary wrestlers possess. Some of the stunts are absolutely athletically beautiful and really physically impressive. It's good to see the "do gooders" have to eat crow once in a while, isn't it? I suppose there's a place and purpose for "do gooders", but they really can be a tedious and saccharine bunch.

The loss of litigation penalty should have been Brent Bozell (sp?) vs. the weakest Dudley?

[Bella_Bru]

RVD is quite talented. He does all sorts of acrobatic flips and whatnot.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Sad for everybody involved. PTC has a point that this kind of declining-Romanesque entertainment may not be the best thing for kids to see, but it absolutely bombed out on the example it picked because of lousy investigation. WWE gets to strut its decadence another day. The world is further swayed to the dark side.

[Aedammair]

I know but isn't he portrayed as somewhat of a newcomer and not quite the caliber of let's say Triple H (man, is he built, or what?)? By the way Bella, how are you, and happy 4th?!

[Bella_Bru]

Yes, he is portrayed in that light. And while he may not have the bulk of Triple H or 'Taker, he does have incredible skill.

[TheBigB]

Speaking of bulk, what about the NEXT...BIG...THING...Brock Lesnar? :)

[rastus macgill]

Substitute L Brent Bozelle III for wrestling.Nice to see one of these self appointed nannies get whats coming to him. Too many companies and institutions cave into these pc /progressive creeps some of the worst of which are the "bipartisan" variety like the PTC.Pro wrestling is as American as cherry pie even if the Canadians Mexicans and Japanese all do it as well or better.Woooooo!

[hchutch]

The fact is, that Bozell was in the wrong.

Quite frankly, with all the media bias, I don't think Bozell should have picked ANY sort of fight with Vince McMahon or WWE (I still think of it as the WWF - curse those environmental extremists!).

[hchutch]

FYI ping.

[Bella_Bru]

Ick. There is just something about Brock that bugs me. I think it's his manager who keeps trying to but in during a match or confusing the ref.

[stainlessbanner]

Woooooo!

Watcha gonna do?!

Seriously, this is good - my buddies and I talk about WWF and the characters when we watched growing up. It's just part of America - has been since the early 1900's: flamboyant characters, tough guys, and trash talking. I don't think Vince will cave to any PC organization - he seems arrogant to a fault. In this case, that's good!

[stainlessbanner]

Oh yeah, I forgot, we always took our vitamins, too!

[Illbay]

Yeah, yeah, meanwhile Rome continues to burn. But that doesn't matter as long as this society of perpetual adolescence gets to watch on TV.

[diotima]

Self ping for later reference.

[Polonius]

The loss of litigation penalty should have been Brent Bozell (sp?) vs. the weakest Dudley?

Spike Dudley? Personally, I'd rather see Bubba put Bozell through a table.

[Illbay]

Funny thing: You all mention "nannies," but the only thing the GOVERNMENT did was side with Vince McMahon and Decadence, Inc.

It seems you all now attach the "nanny" label not only to government, but ANYONE who dares to disagree with our continuing slide into oblivion.

And why is it you're on Free Republic again?

(Reminds me of Bill Murray in "Stripes," declaring the right to cable television. It was supposed to be FUNNY back twenty years ago. Now you people mean it).

[FF578]

It seems you all now attach the "nanny" label not only to government, but ANYONE who dares to disagree with our continuing slide into oblivion.

You are exactly right. The liberaltarian freaks on this forum (yes that is exactly what they are.) Throw out ad hominem attacks against anyone who wants to stop the slide of this great nation into immorality.

These people are pro-immorality nothing more. They think they have a right to sex, drugs, abortion, homosexuality, and any other type of perversion that they can think of.

[hchutch]

If you don't like WWE, I'd strongly recommend re-reading the owners manual of your TV, particularly as it pertains to the operation of the remote to change the channel or to just turn the thing off.

I don't like nannyism from the government or the left (crap like the Fairness Doctrine or political correctness). I also don't like it from the right (Bill Bennett and Brent Bozell).

[rastus macgill]

As someone who sides with leftists (Delores Tucker and Joe Lieberman)and the PTCs coercive attempts to ruin a traditional American business and deprive people of their livelihood and millions of their entertainment what are YOU doing on Free Republic.Go whine about SUVs ,guns, hate speech,animal rights ,Confederate flags and all the other dangerous toys the 300 American children shouldnt be allowed to play with....

[Andy from Beaverton]

What? Get the F out!

[Illbay]

I never watch it. But I have seen enough to know what it is...and I have read enough history to know why things like this become "important."

But we're not talking about whether or not I watch it, are we? We're talking about the fact that being allowed, or not allowed, by the courts to criticize something has no bearing on whether than thing is good or bad.

They can demand a thousand retractions from Bozell, and it's not going to make a dent in the fact that WWE represents the paenem et circaenses of our era, the era just before civilization implodes (probably to be replaced by an Islamic "republic").

Truth is truth, "official" or not.

[Illbay]

Ad hominem all you have left, eh?

[CounterCounterCulture]

The only logical step to take from here would be to have a formal, red-carpeted, in-ring signing of Bozell conceding defeat to Mister Mahhhhcmahhhhn.

THEN BOOM! Swerve! Bozell stone-cold-stuns McMahon and out comes Eric Bischoff, Vince Russo with super-heel group Standards & Practices, a regrouped Right-To-Censor, the wholesome Molly Holly, and Stephanie McMahon. Oh, the horror, the horror...

Nah, that'd be stupid...so therefore Russo is probably pitching the idea right now to VinnieMac.

[Rodney King]

With all due respect, I think that the nanny label is fair for Bozell. I love Bozell's media bias work, but this PTC stuff is not just about pointing out the decline of culture. If it was up to them, the only thing on TV after 8 o'clock would be Touched By An Angel. Someone who wags their finger at everybody, trying to foce them to watch lame & sappy television brings to mind for many an old nanny.

[Illbay]

I think there is PLENTY of latitude between WWE and "Touched By An Angel." Such sweeping generalizations ignore the FACT of societal decay over the last few generations, and the institution of the lowest common denominator as the "norm."

From what I can see, this was less about someone being a "nanny," and more about someone taking the time to alert parents as to what is going on.

That they may have in their zeal made some careless remarks does nothing to alter the fact that society is becoming more base, meaner and less considerate.

We have descended in the aggregate into a permanent adolescence, and it is making all our lives less pleasant and less free as a result.

The bottom line is: License isn't freedom. It never was.

[Rodney King]

I think there is PLENTY of latitude between WWE and "Touched By An Angel."

I agree with you. However, I used to get the almost daily emails from Bozell, and really, all they want us to watch is "Touched By An Angel". That, and there is some other boring show where a family lives with the Grandfather. I forget the name, it's something lame. It's "Full House" or "Family Home" or something. I think it has since been cancelled.

[rastus macgill]

Bozell wasnt about alerting parents He was lying and issuing hyperbolic jeremiads (your favorite) to Sponsors and potential sponsors in an attempt to prevent people from watching pro wrestling.This action was particularly insidious as the PTC had current and former political figures on its roster suggesting a quasi-governmental authority to skittish advertisers (such as the US armed forces recruiters who dropped their ideal demographic).Bozell's zeal led him beyond the law and he paid the price.I hope Steve Allen is spinning in his grave.It was shameful for a television pioneer to turn on the very art which contributed so much to the flourishing of the medium.

[NYCVirago]

I'm glad to see this. Lionel Tate's mother and his attorneys seemed to be looking for a big payday against the WWE, even though the mother was in the house napping when her son killed Tiffany Eunick, the child the mother was supposed to be babysitting. Thanks to the lawyers using this stupid wrestling defense, Lionel Tate received a life sentence for the murder.

[Illbay]

FWIW, the more I find out about this case, the greater concern I have for a court quashing someone's right to speak what he believes than I am that WWE and Larry McMahon might be inconvenienced.

You worry about a "nanny" that has no other authority over you than words. Have you ever considered how insecure you are?

[rastus macgill]

You have not made a point in this discussion other than "wrestling is the decline of civilization"The wienie Bozell copped a plea so to speak and willingly admitted he was wrong his rights werent quashed he got off easy.The actions of the PTC were injurious to the WWF and Vince McMahon , his partners ,stockholders and his employees.Yeah words can be a threat when a paranoid moralist has money celebrity and politicians all backing him up.Western culture may be in decline (who knows its like global warming) but pro wrestling is not even a symptom much less a cause.

[StoneColdGOP]

I can't believe they brought back Vince Russo!

[ambrose]

Vince Russo?

[ambrose]

thanks for the ping... good news

[rastus macgill]

Vinny Ru should be able to run wild and stretch UPNs andTNNs standards and practices to the limit now that the PTC has been deballed I look forward to some very entertaining television I only hope the ring work isn't sacrificed in the pursuit of raunch and ratings.I bet Bozell likes struedel and not pie!

[Timesink]

For whom???!!!! MRC was probably stupid to jump to these conclusions, but there is nothing on earth stupider than rasslin'. Unless it's a day-old Democrat watching rasslin'.

Stupid maybe, but stupid ain't murder.

[rastus macgill]

The main booker (writer) when WWF caught and passed WCW in the late 90s. He then went to WCW and um killed it in many peoples opinion.Responsible for the story lines which caused the nanny declinists to make Pro Wrestling public enemy #1

[Johnny Shear]

Here's my chance to patt myself on the back just a little bit...

First things first...Two of my biggest passions are politics and professional wrestling...(My girlfriend thinks I'm weird because I'll have C-SPAN on one box and Wrestling on the other of my picture-in-a-picture TV)...

Back before election 2000, Leiberman came-out in support of the PTC. (Maybe many of you remember that...He was on their board or something like that.) At the same time, the PTC was giving The WWF all kinds of greif. Really pressing them hard for their content. Wrestling fans all over the internet were ENRAGED at the PTC.

Well...I simply put two and two together...I took advantage of my knowledge of wrestling and politics and the typical wrestling fan's lack of political knowledge...

I went on every wrestling message board I could find and posted something along the lines of the following...

"WRESTLING FANS MUST VOTE FOR GEORGE W. BUSH IN 2000!!! Joe Leiberman is on the baord of the PTC and he is in bed with our arch rival, Brent Bozell. If you are a wrestling fan you MUST vote AGAINST Gore and LEIBERMAN!!! We MUST unite and keep Leiberman and the PTC AWAY from our wrestling. You see the damage they have done already!!!"

Well...I don't know how many votes I helped swing to President Bush but considering Florida, I like to think that just MAYBE I was responsible for a few of those precious 542 votes that became the final margine of victory.

Anyway...That's MY claim to fame. :)

[ambrose]

And Vince hired him back... Wow...

[rastus macgill]

HE has a track record of improving ratings short term.Sometimes I wonder if McMahon doesnt hire guys because he had a nightmare that someone somewhere is about to start a rival promotion and take him over.

[ambrose]

The best thing that could happen to pro-wrestling and Vince would be that a big rival promotion develops.

[rastus macgill]

You are right there. Too bad no one can swing a tv deal I think Mr Bozell is partially responsible for that.I would love to see several rival promotions.Being a southerner I was always a WCW mark(GA Championship Wrestling w/Gordon Solie when I was a kid)I even watch Lucha Libre when Im near a tv that gets galavision.

[ambrose]

Those were the good 'ol days... Three hours of wrasslin' every Saturday on TBS... straight out of a cheesey TV studio! Back in those days, almost all the matches on TV were stars vs complete and totally nameless jobbers. I remember the Road Warriors would run into the ring and give brutal beatdowns to these anonymous jobbers. Was kind of funny.

[Sonny M]

Just wanted to note something here. The most calls the WWE (formerly the WWF) ever recieved was not the famous gun Pillman/Austin incident but when Jerry "the king" Lawler spent the entire show taking shots at Al Gore and Joe Lieberman and stated several times he would not vote for them. Liberals called in like crazy to complain.

[rastus macgill]

Yeah I go back even farther than that I remember Abdullah the Butcher throwing repeated high graceful dropkicks before he got too fat and just ate lightbulbs and bled.Some names of jobbers- Jerry Stubbs the Armstrongs you knew these guys were gonna lose and could only hope Mr Wrestling II or The American Dream Dusty Rhodes would do a run in to make the save and get the fans all fired up to see a house show at the NG Armory, American Legion hall,high school gym or the big card at Atlanta's Municipal Auditorium.