Just a few short months ago, the #SpeakingOut movement spread like wildfire. Women who had been sexually abused and harassed came forward in a show of defiance, determined to show the world that this kind of behaviour could not, and should not, be tolerated. The movement was particularly prevalent within the world of professional wrestling, an area which has now been picked up on by the BBC, helping to gain even more exposure for the cause.
British wrestlers Millie McKenzie, Erin Angel and Lucia Lee have all spoken with BBC Sport to highlight how critical it is that young girls speak up for themselves and help to inspire others along the way. Their stories are so important to the business as a whole, not just for the women involved, but as a learning experience for abusers also. The stories and the experiences of all three women were clearly hard for them to talk about, bringing up painful memories on a platform as big as the BBC.
Coventry born Millie McKenzie, speaking of her abuser former NXT UK star Travis Banks, said:
“I hated wrestling. I hated everyone. I didn’t talk to anyone. I just didn’t want to be there because I’d had to have been around him and all his friends.”
McKenzie was just 17 years old when she entered into a relationship with Banks, who at the time was her 30-year-old wrestling coach. Millie was not alone in speaking out, with many of her colleagues coming forward over the space of just a couple of weeks back in June, calling out the widespread abuse and highlighting sexual harassment in professional wrestling, particularly in Britain.
Travis Banks released a statement shortly after the accusations, saying:
“I apologize again for the pain that was caused. This was an entirely consensual relationship but I recognize that what happened should not have happened. I support the efforts being made by the Speaking Out movement to enable everyone in wrestling, and other sports also, to feel safe and never have to face a similar situation.”
Another Coventry born wrestler, 18 year old Lucia Lee, was another of those who came forward. In June she claimed that young women in the industry were “slut shamed” and referred to as “ring rats”, being accused by their male colleagues of having “slept their way on to shows”.
Wrestler Erin Angel was also heavily involved in the movement, and she has been actively encouraging women to speak out ever since.
“Once it started a lot of us were really ready to tell our stories and say this isn’t right and we want change, we want difference and we want to make it better. I thought it was just happening to me, and I’m sure that every girl that was in that situation was feeling the same.
On Friday, Welsh Labour MP and avid wrestling fan Alex Davies-Jones spearheaded a parliamentary inquiry into the state of British professional wrestling. Just days before that, she had raised the #SpeakingOut movement to her peers in Parliament during a debate centered around misogyny in sport.
“The disturbing reality and lived experience for many female wrestlers is, more often than not, entrenched in misogyny. I have heard horrific tales from female wrestlers who were faced with threats of rape or sexual assault, all in the name of ‘friendly banter’.”
The #SpeakingOut movement has been incredibly important in allowing victims to come out and find a safe space to do so, confiding in others who share their experiences. In recent weeks we have seen the other side to the movement, with some #SpeakingOut accusers such as WWE Superstar Matt Riddle’s accuser Candy Cartwright being taken to court over the allegations.
You can read the full story from BBC Sport here.
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