Kevin Nash sparked controversy earlier this week with remarks about NXT star Je’Von Evans, calling his persona “Mr. Bojangles,” a label many found racially insensitive. However, while the WWE Hall of Famer would take to X.com on Tuesday evening to issue an apology, seemingly defending the term “Uncle Tom” in literature and regretting “Mr. Bojangles,” the post actually intensified negative sentiment. And now, indicating he wants to move on, he has deleted the original apology, which has caused even further backlash.
For those unaware, the term “Mr. Bojangles” is controversial as it evokes minstrel-era tropes of Black performers as subservient entertainers for white audiences, perpetuating derogatory racial imagery. And while Evans himself has not directly addressed the comments, he has since posted a photograph on Instagram showing him perched on ring ropes under a WrestleMania sign captioned: “Just Wanna Apologize Real Quick….. I’m sorry for being the best in the game right now!! Elimination Chamber Bout To……Yall Finish The Rest.” Notably, he set the post to Nash’s nWo Wolfpac entrance theme, amplifying the perceived shade.
