Some people felt Vince McMahon went over the line with his blistering impersonation of Jim Ross in a backstage segment on Monday’s Raw SuperShow, which saw the WWE Chairman make a horribly distorted face ridiculing the Hall of Fame broadcaster’s affliction with Bell’s palsy. Ross suffers from the condition, which sometimes results in temporary paralysis of his facial muscles.
McMahon’s mockery segment struck a nerve with former WCW announcer Mark Madden, who went on Twitter to blast the WWE chief.
McMahon mocking Ross' Bell's Palsy last night was unforgivable. Wut a scumbag, pure& simple. Just a twisted, emotionally crippled jerkoff.
— Mark Madden (@MarkMaddenX) June 12, 2012
McMahon wasn't mocking a stranger. Ross is one of WWE's most valued employees ever. Ross' big sin: He knows more about wrestling than Vince.
— Mark Madden (@MarkMaddenX) June 12, 2012
@bunkerman535 Ross was not "in on the bit." I can assure you of that.
— Mark Madden (@MarkMaddenX) June 12, 2012
Former WWE creative writer Seth Mates pointed out the hypocrisy in McMahon mocking Ross’ medical condition while simultaneously promoting the ‘be a STAR’ anti-bullying campaign.
Valid point some have mentioned – @WWE touts anti-bullying, yet babyface vince mocks @JRsBBQ 's medical condition?
— Seth Mates (@SethMates) June 12, 2012
“@realisticj: the BAS/WWE hypocrisy complaints are old and stale." how does hypocrisy get old & stale? Hypocrisy is hypocrisy
— Seth Mates (@SethMates) June 12, 2012
It's one thing for heels to be bullies & then get what they have coming. It's another for faces to make bullying look cool & fun
— Seth Mates (@SethMates) June 12, 2012
Another on-air remark mocking Ross’ medical condition took place month earlier on the December 9, 2011 episode of SmackDown. After commentator Josh Mathews made a remark about Michael Cole “speaking out of both sides” of his mouth, Cole quipped, “Actually, there is nothing wrong with my mouth, unlike J.R.’s.” Ross was not pleased with the comment. He tweeted:
“We can blame a ‘writer.’ That’s cowardly. Poor attempt to be a villain.”