Why is Bianca Belair trending? WWE universe rallies behind star after racist fan tirade
WWEWhy is Bianca Belair trending on social media? The WWE universe, including fellow superstars and fans alike, are all rallying behind her in light of a racist tirade from a section of the community.
Although much of the WWE universe looks to spread positivity and celebrate the most popular characters or storylines in a given moment, there’s always a smaller portion being vile online. This goes with just about any community in the modern age, though some recent toxicity in the sports entertainment world has caught fire more than most.
Some particularly hostile viewers recently directed racist comments at Bianca Belair. The multiple-time women’s champion and full-fledged, hair-whipping superstar the subject of widespread criticism over the past few days.
But what led to these racist outbursts and why is Bianca Belair now trending on social media as a result? Here’s what you need to know.
Racism towards Bianca Belair explained
When this year’s WWE 2K24 video game was unveiled, we immediately learned of the latest cover stars. The Standard Edition features Cody Rhodes, while a Forty Years of WrestleMania edition comes with splash art including over a dozen big names. However, it’s the Deluxe Edition cover some have taken issue with.
Both Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair share the Deluxe Edition cover. Former rivals through NXT to the main roster, both superstars have all but defined women’s wrestling over the past few years. Though not everyone agrees the latter should be featured.
“Bianca doesn’t belong,” one person said on TikTok. “But guess gotta have a black [sic].”
This comment along with a handful of others began circulating beyond TikTok, garnering a response across all manner of social platforms as fans debated Bianca’s position on the cover.
Why is Bianca Belair trending on social media?
With various racist comments gaining traction online amid the promotional wave of WWE 2K24’s launch, it wasn’t long before a trend kicked off, one that soon saw dozens of industry veterans sharing their heartfelt thoughts on Bianca.
Among the first to chime in was former WWE champ Big E. “The black women in this industry face a regular barrage of racism and misogyny from ‘fans,’” he explained. “You cannot diminish their light. You cannot erase their contributions to this industry.”
Shortly after cover co-star Rhea Ripley then spoke up on the viral controversy. “EST ain’t just a nickname [Bianca] is a history make, a trailblazer, and one of the nicest humans you would have the privilege to ever meet. Y’all just mad that she’s better than you.”
Longtime rival on the main roster and one of the most popular women’s wrestlers of the modern era, Becky Lynch then put out a comment, echoing the sentiment Bianca “is truly one of one.
“One of the bEST flagbearers we have in WWE. This woman barely sleeps because of her dedication to her craft. Her work ethic is top tier and her personality and heart goes beyond that somehow.”
Thousands of replies and millions of impressions later, Bianca Belair has become a top trend worldwide as the positive begins to wash out the handful of pesky negative comments.
Bianca herself is yet to publicly comment on the matter but we’ll be sure to update you here should that change.