This was posted on the Variety website yesterday, noting that both UPN and WWE have taken some heat for the Taker-Hassan angle:
The episode aired the same day as the subway and bus bombings in London; UPN ran a crawl on its screen four times through the broadcast, noting that, “In light of today’s tragic events in London, parental discretion is advised in viewing this episode.”
That wasn’t enough of a warning for some viewers, who took offense at the depiction of Arab-American wrestlers Daivari and Muhammad Hassan — who was shown in the episode praying while five men wearing ski masks rushed the ring and choked the “good guy,” longtime WWE wrestler the Undertaker.
WWE and UPN said they were unable to alter the episode, due to the tight timeframe between the show’s taping earlier in the week and its Thursday night timeslot.
Gary Davis, spokesperson for WWE, noted “We all feel bad about the timing of the segment. People will see what happens this week (as the storyline) gets straightened out.”
Just to note, UPN felt that scroll bar at the bottom was enough warning to the fans. Sources within WWE feel the McMahon’s think the angle and publicity will make them some money and as the saying goes, any pub is good pub.
