During a new interview on TMZ’s Inside the Ring podcast, Rob Van Dam addressed the fallout Ricochet faced for a controversial comment about a fan’s multiple sclerosis (MS).
Van Dam said that while Ricochet’s post on X (Twitter) about being glad the fan got MS was “a horrible thing to say,” he thought the reaction on social media was overblown.
The controversy surrounding Ricochet started after AEW posted a clip on X of the star destroying a backstage area following his loss of the AEW National Championship
in Sunday’s Blackjack Battle Royal at Revolution.
An X user going by the name Sandi T., whose bio mentions her battle with MS, posted in the comments of the clip: “His acting hasn’t improved.”
Ricochet responded by writing: “I’m glad you got MS.”
The backlash came swiftly, with many wrestling fans writing on social media that they’ve known loved ones who’ve suffered from MS.
Ricochet issued a formal apology a day after his initial post.
“I took out my hatred for the IWC on Sandi, and inadvertently others who are effected by MS. She didnt deserve it and for that, I sincerely apologize,” Ricochet said in his statement posted on X. “Moving forward I’ll do better.”
While many fans accepted his apology, others remained angry and called for his release from AEW.
TMZ hosts Branson Quirke and Roger Corral asked RVD about the controversy, noting Ricochet and his wife, Samantha Irvin, have received death threats.
“You guys know I have a history with the internet mark community,” the WWE Hall of Famer answered. “I think they went too far. I’m not saying I have his back, but big deal, is it that much worse than saying, ‘F*** off and die?’ Nobody would care if he said that.”
He continued: “It’s freedom of speech. What a horrible thing to say. But come on, so what? Why take it that seriously? And who even knows if he was trying to get heat, being a heel.
“I doubt that he really, truly felt that way. I always think that you should judge by the intentions behind the words.”
Elsewhere in the interview, the 55-year-old was asked about returning to WWE for a potential retirement tour.
“I am open to consider anything, that’s part of being open-minded. I try not to shut anything out without at least considering it. And when it comes to something like that, they got my number. They can talk to me,” he replied.
However, RVD added: “But as far as a retirement tour, unless I change my perspective — which always happens, you’re always looking at everything from a different place in life if you keep going. But the way I feel now, I don’t like the idea of labeling something ‘retirement’ or I don’t really want to know if I’m having my last match when I am.”
What do you think about RVD’s stance on the backlash against Ricochet? Let us know in the comments.
