John Cena supports Vince McMahon despite the allegations

This is what many wrestling fans have wanted for a couple of decades. John Cena finally stands up. Well, like most things WWE does, when it finally happened, it landed with a flurry of turkeys being thrown from a helicopter (IFYKYK).

This isn’t the first time Cena has wavered on the ethics of equality and diversity, and he likes to trumpet his defense of those who sign the checks. Remember how quickly he backed off to apologize to China in a flash after calling Taiwan a country? You have to keep the audience in the theater Suicide Squad and Cock blockers (which admittedly was funnier than it had any right to be).

On the one hand, it’s unfair to expect someone to throw a friend, even a close friend, under the bus just because the rest of us are — even if it’s inconceivable that Vince McMahon has close friends. After all, McMahon made Cena the multi-millionaire he is. They were close in any way, 20 years or more. Who wants to believe that about someone who has been a part of your life for so long?

On the other hand, there is no real debate about what happened, or about its ugliness. Cena should know that much and could have refrained from commenting. Or, as you probably want to do every other time, you thread the needle to express your understanding of every angle while not really buying any of them. This is usually the politician’s game. Something like this: “As Vince’s friend, I was extremely disappointed to learn of his alleged crimes and misconduct, and as his friend, I hold him to a higher standard. Which I will continue to do.” It might be hard to think about, but Cena is worldly enough to know these questions are coming, and it’s not like everything else isn’t prepped and washed (and shaved!).

Also, John, what McMahon is accused of is not “imperfection”. They are terrible. This isn’t the guy you steal soda from the grocery store, or who likes to burp loudly in public. These are allegations and stories of McMahon using his position of power to take advantage of the women who work for him, consensual or not. (“Mr. McMahon denies and has always denied rape [Rita] Chatterton,” his attorney Jerry McDevitt told the Wall Street Journal. A WWE spokesperson also told the WSJ that the relationship between McMahon and a female legal representative previously employed by the company was consensual. Additionally, according to the WSJ, McDevitt said the attorney did not allege harassment against McMahon and that “WWE did not pay any money” to the former employee “at the time of his departure.”)

He’s probably very happy about that too transfers his company to Saudi Arabia just for the money, without considering all that comes with it, including the position that some of your former employees will place. But who cares as long as Vince gets the check?

And part of the check still goes to Cena, which he’s well aware of.