Source: 7 Days Online
WWE’s recent storyline, which features Muhammad Hassan and Khosrov Daivari playing Arab-Americans taking out their frustrations on America, has been condemned by a media expert from the United Arab Emirates.
“The world needs to be reassured that America is good and coupled with the abuse issues this programming might do the opposite with respect to public opinion globally,” said Dr James Piecowye, assistant professor of Communication and Media Sciences at Zayed University in Dubai.
“World Wrestling Entertainment is exploiting a negative stereotype of Arabs which is perpetrated through news and entertainment media alike to make money,” said Piecowye. “WWE is about one thing: money.”
“The problem with the entertainment media and especially wrestling programming in general is that it over represents reality and this overrepresentation may be lost on some viewers.”
The article went on to talk about the stereotypical statement in Hassan’s bio, as well as the fear that as WWE programming is exported across the globe, it might reinforce a negative stereotype.
