Updated @ 5:35 PM ET
AEW issued the following.statement to Sports Illustrated’s The Takedown:
“AEW does not comment on pending litigation.”
-Original story from earlier today is below-
As first reported by The Wrestling News, Kevin Kelly (real name Kevin Foote) and The Tate Twins (Brandon and Brendon), have filed lawsuits against AEW.
Kelly’s lawsuit alleges defamation from Ian Riccaboni and AEW, resulting from Riccaboni making disparaging comments on a discord channel regarding Kelly being involved with QAnon conspiracies. Kelly is seeking monetary damages, claiming that AEW breached his contract and that the situation has made it difficult for him to find work elsewhere. AEW fired Kelly this past March.
The Tate Twins were fired by Tony Khan back in April. Khan publicly stated Brandon and Brendon were released because they no-showed events. The brothers later said they no-showed due to miscommunication between themselves and management after they were booked to fly out of a different airport than what they would normally use. The twins claim they no-showed events is at the center of their defamation suit against Khan and AEW.
In addition, Kelly and the Tate twins are also requesting the court certify a class-action suit against AEW over the company misclassifying its talent as independent contractors rather than employees.
Attorney Stephen P. New made the following comment as it pertains to the lawsuit:
“I applaud the bravery of these Plaintiffs in bringing this long-overdue action, challenging the mis-classification of pro-wrestlers as independent contractors instead of employees. We know we are in for a long, hard fight, but in the end, I believe justice always prevails.”
New also made a second statement/comment on X, saying the following:
“How fitting and appropriate that on Labor Day weekend a lawsuit is filed seeking to correct, among other things, the abhorrent practice of misclassification of pro wrestlers as independent contractors and not employees. All AEW wrestlers are now members of this putative class.”
Source: F4WOnline