Pro wrestler Max Caster said in a video posted to social media Tuesday that he will not apologize to people offended by a rap lyric he delivered at a Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) event, a line that referenced the Houthis’ attack on a Saudi Arabian airport that killed more than a dozen people and injured several others.
Caster appeared at TNA’s Bound for Glory pay-per-view to answer Moose’s open challenge. Known for rapping over his entrance music with provocative lyrics, Caster said as he walked to the ring: “… And it’s the firing squad. I drop bombs. You don’t even have to fly to Riyadh.”
The line sparked immediate backlash online. On Monday, TNA announced it had cut ties with Caster over the verse.
Caster said he understood why TNA president Carlos Silva decided to part ways with him after just one match, and he apologized to people who had vouched for him, saying he felt he had let a lot of people down. But he drew a distinction when addressing those who were offended by the joke itself.
“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.”
He added: “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 had deleted everything related to Caster from its social media accounts and would no longer welcome him with the 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 drew support from wrestler 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 said he was unsure of his next steps. The TNA appearance was his first since he parted ways with All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he had been a tag team champion alongside Anthony Bowens and, together with Bowens and Billy Gunn, held the AEW World Trios Championship.
