RVD Calls Racism Allegations Against Tessa Blanchard a “Misunderstanding”

Tessa Blanchard’s career took a huge hit after indie wrestler La Rosa Negra accused Blanchard of calling her the N-word before spitting on her. While Blanchard denied the accusation, the wrestling world didn’t want anything to do with her for several years. Blanchard is still branded as a racist by many but it appears RVD has now come to Blanchard’s defense.

While speaking on his 1 of a Kind podcast, RVD talked about the racism accusations against Tessa Blanchard. He said that when he met her, she was always nice and he never had any problems with her. He pointed out that she gets a lot of criticism from other women in the business and from fans. He thinks the situation might just be a matter of different values and misunderstandings.

“When I met her, I thought she was cool. Firsthand, she’s always been nice, and I’ve never had any issues with her. She gets a lot of s*** from other girls and, of course, from the fans. At worst, it seems like a case of mismatched values and probably a misunderstanding.”

RVD mentioned that many people believe Tessa is racist, but he can’t say for sure. However, he said he’s not surprised by racism because it was common where he grew up. He explained that before he was born, segregation was still in place and the government even encouraged racism. He’s not shocked when older people, like Hulk Hogan, face similar accusations. But with Tessa, he felt there isn’t enough proof to make a clear judgment.

“I know a lot of people think she’s racist. I can’t say one way or another, but I’m never surprised when someone is racist. It’s really common where I grew up. There was a lot of racism there. Right before I was born, they ended segregation. The government used to tell you it was okay to be racist—it was your obligation to be racist. That was the way it was. So when people, especially those older than me—like Hogan or someone—have allegations against them, I’m not shocked. But when it comes to her, from what I’ve heard, there’s not enough evidence for me to feel strongly either way. She could be racist, or she could not be.”

RVD also questioned why racism would be held against someone in entertainment unless it was something they really focused on. He compared it to people who push their political views too much, which can annoy others. He doesn’t think Tessa is necessarily racist, even though some people use racial slurs to hurt others in the heat of the moment.

“And if she is, I don’t really see why that should matter in the entertainment world—unless being racist is her whole identity and she’s pushing that message. In that case, I can see how it would interfere with her job. It’s like with people who are overly political—they push their values on everyone else and think others are wrong for not sharing them.”

The WWE Hall of Famer added that just because someone uses a racist word doesn’t mean they truly believe in racial superiority. He compared it to calling someone fat or bald during an argument—people sometimes use insults just to hurt others.

RVD believes people do this as a defense mechanism, not because they truly believe those insults. In the end, RVD said that if Tessa did use a hurtful word, it doesn’t mean she’s a racist—it just means she was trying to hurt someone at that moment.

“I’ve thought before that if someone says something blatantly racist—if it truly comes across like they believe they are superior because of their skin color—then their stupidity shines through. But that’s different from someone yelling the most hurtful word they can think of in the heat of the moment. It’s the same as calling someone fat in an argument just to hurt them or making fun of someone’s bald head during a fight. People think throwing in an insult gives them leverage. It’s kind of like a defense mechanism—part of our survival instincts.

So, if she did say the word, that alone doesn’t automatically make her something. It just means she tried to hurt someone and chose a word she thought would do that. And that’s what I believe.”

Even Jim Corette recently defended Tessa Blanchard while the racism allegations run rampant. Nonetheless, RVD’s comments have added a new viewpoint to the ongoing controversy surrounding Tessa Blanchard. While some fans may still support the accusations against her, others might appreciate RVD’s viewpoint that people can make mistakes without necessarily holding onto harmful beliefs.

What do you think about RVD’s defense of Tessa Blanchard? Do you believe a single incident should define someone’s character? Share your thoughts and feedback in the comments below!

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