WWE faces backlash for featuring ‘racist, homophobic’ boxer Ryan Garcia on Raw
Ryan Garcia appeared on WWE’s Monday Night RAW (Getty Images/WWE)
WWE is facing criticism after boxer Ryan Garcia, who has a history of racist and anti-LGBTQ+ comments, appeared on this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw.
Garcia featured on the go-home episode before SummerSlam 2026, held in Los Angeles. The segment was quickly met with criticism online, with much of the anger centred on Garcia’s inclusion.
Fans resurfaced the boxer’s history of offensive remarks. In July 2024, Garcia was expelled by the World Boxing Council after a livestream in which he repeatedly used racist slurs against Black people, made anti-Muslim comments, and made disturbing remarks about George Floyd, the Black man murdered by a police officer in 2020.
His own parents publicly disavowed the comments and urged him to seek help. Garcia later apologised, claiming he had been “trolling” and was struggling with substance abuse, said he would enter rehab, and the ban was lifted in November 2025.
Fans also pointed to past homophobic and anti-transgender posts from the boxer as reason to question WWE’s decision to platform him on national television.
“This is disgusting. Like come on WWE,” one wrote. Another said: “Ilja Dragunov can’t get on the f****** show but yeah let’s spotlight this racist boxer.”
The WBC lifted Garcia’s suspension in July 2025, saying it believed he had taken “meaningful steps” towards rebuilding his life and career. WWE has not commented on the backlash.
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