Tommy Dreamer has apologised for controversial comments made during this week’s episode of Dark Side of the Ring.
The 50-year-old star – who was suspended by IMPACT Wrestling after appearing to make light of a past sexual assault allegation made against Ric Flair – has addressed the backlash over his remarks and said he didn’t intend to ‘victim shame’ anyone.
He said in a statement on Twitter: ‘Regarding my comments on Dark Side of the Ring. It was never my intention to offend, hurt or victim shame anyone.
‘I understand my comments were insensitive & could trigger emotions in someone’s own personal past.
‘I do not condone sexual misconduct of any kind.
‘I apologise to anyone I offended. From the bottom of my heart. I am truly sorry.’
Dreamer earlier commented on a sexual assault allegation made against Flair following the infamous Plane Ride From Hell in 2002.
The private flight back to the US from WWE’s European Tour saw the wrestlers on board given an open bar, with the plane grounded for seven hours due to weather conditions in Connecticut.
Speaking on this week’s episode of Dark Side of the Ring, flight attendant Heidi Doyle alleged that Flair exposed himself to her and made her touch his penis.
‘I was in the galley… Ric Flair was naked in a cape only, and then he decided to come back to the galley to get a coke and then he wouldn’t leave the galley,’ she claimed.
‘He had me up against the back door, and I couldn’t move.
‘I couldn’t get away from him… I couldn’t… I couldn’t move. He was spinning around his penis and he wanted me to touch it. He took my hand and put it on him.’
Producers noted in the episode that Flair has denied the allegations in the past, and a settlement was reached at the time between Doyle and WWE.
Dreamer also popped up in the episode and appeared to make light of the incident.
‘He could move his hips, twirl it and so his well-endowed penis spins around like a helicopter. So, hey, he’s the Nature Boy for a reason, he’s got a hammer on him,’ he said, referencing Flair’s nickname.
‘Ric Flair’s not going to try to impose by force any sexual stuff onto anybody. He’s just flaunting, styling and profiling, doing the Ric Flair stuff where everybody’s going to laugh about it.
‘But obviously, someone took offence to it.’
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