Gisele Shaw, an Impact Wrestling star, has resorted to Twitter to criticize Rick Steiner after he allegedly made transphobic comments about her during this weekend’s Wrestlecon signing ceremony.
The celebrity made the charge against him on Friday, describing what she claims was a highly offensive rant directed at her transgender identity. She claims Steiner continuously harassed her at WrestleCon, calling her “a man,” “filth,” and “a piece of trash,” and telling her to “get the f*ck away from here” in a tweet. Shaw also claims that Steiner used a slur to make fun of another Impact performer too.
Gisele Shaw apparently initially brushed off the transphobic outburst and didn’t recognize the speaker. Later, when she went back to the same spot, she found that Steiner was continuing to taunt her. When Shaw approached him, he continued to shout insulting remarks at her.
Shaw claims that the assault happened in front of other renowned wrestlers who did nothing to stop it. She claims she is openly recognizing this experience, not for sympathy, but because Friday was International Day of Transgender Visibility, and she is speaking up for herself and others who endure similar scenarios on a regular basis.
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According to Shaw, these occurrences continue to occur because “people let it slide,” and going ahead, she won’t do business with anyone who is working with such kind of people.
Gisele Shaw is a transgender woman and she came out last year at Pride Toronto.
She closed by expressing her gratitude to her Impact colleagues who helped her out at the time. Following that, she thanked Impact for being a great place to work. “I am very fortunate to be working alongside such incredible people in a company that has no room for hate, bullying, or judgment,” she added.
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As of now, Rick Steiner hasn’t reacted to Gisele Shaw’s assertion.