WWE facing backlash for 'shameless' use of Auschwitz concentration camp during WrestleMania
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WWE is facing backlash for its "shameless" use of an image of the Auschwitz concentration camp as part of a promotion during its biggest event of year, WrestleMania.
The image of the concentration camp appeared during a video promo for the WrestleMania 39 match between father and son, Rey and Dominik Mysterio.The video, which was shown during the kickoff show prior to the first day of the event Saturday at SoFi Stadium, had a picture of Auschwitz as part of Dominik Mysterio's storyline.
The kickoff show, which is on YouTube, appears to have cut the image from the video.
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'Shameless'
Many Twitter users and wrestling outlets shared the image online, condemning the company for using it, including Auschwitz Memorial.
"The fact that Auschwitz image was used to promote a WWE match is hard to call 'an editing mistake,'" the museum said on Twitter. "Exploiting the site that became a symbol of enormous human tragedy is shameless and insults the memory of all victims of Auschwitz."
The fact that Auschwitz image was used to promote a WWE match is hard to call "an editing mistake". Exploiting the site that became a symbol of enormous human tragedy is shameless and insults the memory of all victims of Auschwitz.https://t.co/b4bbYgWPwj https://t.co/Xud4rbhEUS pic.twitter.com/tuJrzmK6mQ
— Auschwitz Memorial (@AuschwitzMuseum) April 5, 2023
The video was shown again during the event, as well as inside the stadium, but the image of Auschwitz was taken out.
USA TODAY has reached to WWE for comment.
Why did WWE show an image of Auschwitz?
The image of the Auschwitz concentration camp was shown as part of Dominik Mysterio's storyline up to his match against his father.
In September, Mysterio turned heel by attacking his dad and joining the faction, The Judgement Day. In the following months, Mysterio and the faction attacked his father on numerous occasions. In one segment, an attack at the Mysterio household resulted in the son being arrested and sent to jail. Then, performing as a hardened-criminal character, he arrived to his WrestleMania match in the back of a prison van.
"You think this is a game to me? I served hard time, and I survived," Mysterio said in a prison cell as shots of jails are shown before the still of Auschwitz appears.
wwe saw the accidental auschwitz and edited it FAST pic.twitter.com/eHnvoj1TqW
— forever botchamania (@Maffewgregg) April 2, 2023
Rey Mysterio went on to defeat Dominik Mysterio in their match on night one.
Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter: @jordan_mendoza5.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WWE's Auschwitz image in Mysterio WrestleMania intro draws backlash
