John Huber, known better to wrestling fans as Brodie Lee and Luke Harper, tragically passed away last December at 41. AEW would out on a moving tribute show, which saw each match feature at least one member of The Dark Order, and Huber’s longtime tag partner Erick Rowan made an appearance. Huber’s eight-year-old son Brodie Lee Jr. was also awarded the TNT Championship belt his father previously held in an emotional segment.
Since that night, Lee Jr. has made frequent appearances for AEW as part of The Dark order under the name -1. Most fans see this as AEW helping support Huber’s family and letting his son live out his dream. However, some fans have been critical, even going as far as to say the promotion is exploiting him. Now in an Instagram story, Huber’s widow has addressed these claims.
I try to ignore the sh*t online, but know I see it. I see the snide comments about Brodie’s involvement. The use of the word exploitation. It’s disheartening.
Our world crumbled.
AEW has helped us pick up the pieces.
It’s easy to be distrustful of any corporation and I’d be lying if I didn’t constantly think the rug was going to get pulled out from under me. It hasn’t. Even when it felt like everything was pulled out from under me, this wasn’t.
They let Brodie feel like he’s a part of something. Notice there’s no storylines involving him. Just him being connected to a huge part of him that’s missing.
What everyone doesn’t see on the other side of social media is a kid who is carrying so much grief yet so much joy. A kid who is excelling in his therapy. A kid who despite the worst few months of his life got 10-A’s and 3-B’s on his report card last week. On days we go to AEW you are all missing him doing his school work from a hotel room because going to AEW is a privilege. Or sitting with Aunty Megha working in math problems.
They also make me feel like I’m a part of something. We make the drive every other show so I can spend time with people who remind me of the best parts of being alive. People like @meghalegalgirl10 & @margaret.stalvey who sit in the crowd next to me and let me vent & cry & laugh & breathe in a world that wants me to be weighed down with grief.
My Instagram isn’t grief p**n. It’s never going to be a place where I want people to come and feel sorry for me. It’s photos of my journey. So come join me. Just know I didn’t die the day my husband did, I’m very much alive and full of fight. I’m not made of glass. I’m a diamond and like a wise friend shared with me, ‘hard times put the shine in the diamond’.Amanda Huber
It’s been revealed that Lee Jr. has an official contract with AEW waiting for him once he turns 18. So if he chooses, he can follow his father’s footsteps and perhaps even one-day deliver a discus lariat in memory to his father. While nothing will ever make up for losing a father or husband, it is tremendous that AEW is doing all they can for the Huber family, not only now but long-term.
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