The network owner behind All Elite Wrestling’s popular TV shows states that it did not influence the decision to keep wrestler Brody King out of the ring this week, despite widespread speculation among fans.
King, who has openly criticized the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in recent months, received “fuck ICE” chants from the audience during the Feb. 4 episode of AEW Dynamite on TBS.
In addition to wrestling, King is also the vocalist for the recently-disbanded hardcore group God’s Hate.
Warner Bros. Discovery Addresses Brody King Not Appearing on ‘AEW Dynamite’
King was not prominently featured on Wednesday’s episode of Dynamite.
His absence was significant as he is currently involved in a major storyline leading up to a world heavyweight championship match this Saturday.
Reports emerged on Thursday morning suggesting that King had been excluded from the show by TBS owners Warner Bros. Discovery due to the anti-ICE chants from the previous week.
Shortly after, the company issued a statement to wrestling news website Fightful.com denying any involvement in keeping King off TV.
READ MORE: Wrestler Brody King’s Hardcore Band God’s Hate Announce Hiatus
“Warner Bros. Discovery did not have any involvement in Brody King’s upcoming AEW schedule,” the statement to Fightful.com reads. “Any speculation to the contrary is categorically false.”
Warner Bros. Discovery also promoted King’s upcoming title match this Saturday.
Wrestling writer Dave Meltzer, who was among the first to allege Warner Bros. Discovery’s involvement in this decision, later noted that AEW confirmed that the company did not pressure them to keep King off TV on Wednesday.
“Those at AEW have said nobody from WBD asked them not to use Brody King on last night’s show and this was just how it was booked to only use him in a video package,” Meltzer stated in a post on X.
Brody King Selling Anti-ICE Shirts
Alongside posting his views on ICE activities on social media, King has partnered with a company to sell “abolish ICE” T-shirts featuring his image on the front.
Proceeds from shirt sales will be donated to the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee.
brody king ICE shirt
The shirts, priced starting at $30, are currently available for pre-order online.
Headlocked Comics has also collaborated with King for a special edition comic book, featuring an illustration of King wearing an “abolish ICE” shirt on the cover.
Proceeds from comic book sales will also be donated to MIRAC. The comic book can be found via the Headlocked Comics website.
This month, King announced on social media that these efforts have already raised a total of $58,000 for the group.
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Gallery Credit: Rob Carroll
