WWE is an inclusive work environment and they have taken great steps to put attention on Superstars’ personal lives by giving them time off that they need. This time off can include pregnancy leave, but that wasn’t always the case in Vince McMahon’s company.

While speaking to Ring The Belle, Joy Giovanni discussed how her time in WWE was much different than the one we know today. She said that it was “unacceptable” to have children. This wasn’t a written rule, but it was certainly felt in the culture.

“Back then, the industry was completely different. The film and television industry and the ‘sports entertainment industry,’ it was highly unacceptable to have children. It wasn’t something that people would out loud tell you just like other types of discrimination, but if an agent, if a manager, if a production found out that you have kids, you are undesirable.”

After Carmella DeCesare outed Joy Giovanni on live television as a mother, Stephanie McMahon pulled Joy aside. McMahon asked Joy if she does have kids, which she confirmed. Giovanni went on to say that one of the agents “dropped” her after that.

Advertising
Advertising

“Carmella in all of her glory was the one that outed me to the entire world that I was a mom. Nobody knew. I got pulled aside by production, by Stephanie McMahon, by everyone you could imagine, and they were like, ‘do you have kids?!’ And I was like ‘Surprise, I do. [awkward thumbs up gesture]. And the crazy thing is the only reason she knew that is because of that tiny room that we were in, she would hear my personal phone conversations talking to my kids multiple times a day.

So, she took it upon herself to bring my out of the parenthood closet. And to be quite honest, I actually got dropped by one of my agents because of it.”

WWE is a much different place nowadays, with the company openly giving Superstars pregnancy hiatuses, with Becky Lynch and Lacey Evans being two prime examples. Only time will tell who gets time off next, but the company certainly isn’t killing pushes over pregnancy anymore.

What’s your take on how WWE has changed? Are things better now? Sound off in the comments!

Felix Upton

Felix Upton is a seasoned writer with over 30 years of experience. He began his career writing advertisements for local newspapers in New York before transitioning to publishing news for Ringside News. His expertise includes writing, editing, research, photo editing, and video editing. In his free time, he enjoys bungee jumping and learning extinct languages.

Disqus Comments Loading...