Using an image from the Auschwitz concentration camp to advertise one of its events on the opening night of WrestleMania 39 last weekend drew an apology from World Wrestling Entertainment on Friday.
The picture was included in a marketing package for the April 1 preview show match between Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio.
“We were unaware of the events presented. As soon as we discovered it, it was taken out right away. We regret our mistake, the WWE stated in a statement.
Dominik Mysterio went to jail as part of the father-son plot after getting into an altercation with his father over Christmas.
As Dominik said, “You think this is a game to me?” an image of Auschwitz is shown in the commercial. I got a tough time. And I got through.”
Stock footage featuring barbed wire and an empty jail cell was used in place of the photo from the Owicim concentration camp in Poland, where 1.1 million people were killed by the Nazis during World War II, in the promo before the game and in replays.
Fans of wrestling have called attention to the Auschwitz image’s use.
As the Auschwitz Memorial Museum tweeted on Wednesday that using the photograph “is hard to call,” it gained more attention.
The monument said, “Exploiting the site that became a symbol of great human misery is shameless and degrades the memories of all victims of Auschwitz.”
His son lost the bout to Rey Mysterio, who was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame last week.
Attracted 161,892 spectators, WrestleMania 39 at SoFi Stadium broke both nights’ single-day attendance records.
It was also the most-watched event on Peacock since the previous year’s Super Bowl.
Also, the two-night event occurred just before the McMahon family and the organization overseeing Ultimate Fighting Championship agreed to unite.
Endeavor and WWE made plans to establish a $21.4 billion sports entertainment company public on Monday morning.
JOIN US ON WHAT'SAPP, TO GET INSTANT STATUS UPDATES AND BE IN THE KNOW.
CLICK HERE
