A Cook County Sheriff's officer has filed a 14-count lawsuit against WWE and wrestler Montez Ford following an incident during a July 6 broadcast of Monday Night Raw. The legal action alleges that Ford performed an unwanted, sexualized dance on the off-duty security guard during an entrance at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois.
The 14-count complaint against Kenneth Crawford and WWE
Noel Lucas, an officer with the Cook County Sheriff's Department, has initiated legal action against WWE and Montez Ford, whose legal name is Kenneth Crawford. The lawsuit, filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, alleges that Ford engaged in assault and battery during the Street Profits' entrance. According to the report, the 14-count complaint includes claims of intetnional infliction of emotional distress and violations of the Illinois Gender Violence Act.
The legal filing further alleges that the incident violated the Illinois Right of Publicity Act. Lucas, who was working off-duty security for the private firm Monterrey Security at the time, claims that Ford approached him without warning or consent to perform the provocative dance. The lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary and punitive damages, as well as legal fees.
Personal fallout from the Allstate Arena footage
The legal action highlights the significant personal distress caused by the viral nature of the encounter. As reported by the source, the footage of the incident spread across social media, garnering hundreds of thousands of views on the accounts of both WWE and Ford. Lucas claims this exposure led to him being mocked by the public while performing his full-time duties at a courthouse the following day.
The lawsuit also details the impact on the officer's family life. lucas alleges that his children were subjected to ridicule and mockery at school due to the widely circulated video of the incident. He claims the ongoing presence of the footage online continues to cause him humiliation and embarrassment.
Netflix's massive reach and the missing broadcast footage
The July 6 episode of Monday Night Raw achieved significant viewership, drawing an estimated 12,500 fans to the Allstate Arena. According to Wrestlenomics data reported by Wrestling Inc., the broadcast recorded 2.5 million global views on Netflix over a seven-day period. This massive digital reach likely contributed to the rapid spread of the incident on social media platforms.
There is a notable discrepancy between the live event and the official digital record.. While fan-captured clips show the interaction, the version of the episode currently available on Netflix appears to cut away from the Street Profits' entrance prematurely. This edit leaves out the specific interaction that forms the basis of the 14-count lawsuit.
The mystery of Montez Ford's sudden absence from WWE television
Montez Ford has not appeared on WWE programming since the Street Profits lost the World Tag Team Titles to Bron Breakker and Austin Theory at the Allstate Arena event. This absence follows a previous six-month period where the tag team was missing from weekly television before returning in April. Ford, who signed with WWE in 2015 and became a Tag Team Triple Crown champion in 2020, has remained off-screen since the July title loss.
While the lawsuit was filed recently, it remains unconfirmed if Ford's absence is related to these legal allegations. There are currently no reports suggesting that Ford or his partner, Angelo Dawkins, are sidelined due to physical injuries. The reason for the Street Profits' disappearance from the broadcast rotation remains unknown.
Who is responsible for the security placement?
The lawsuit presents several unverified claims and leaves key questions unanswered, as the complaint primarily reflects the perspective of Noel Lucas. One major unknown is the identity of the specific WWE employee who allegedly directed Lucas to take up his position near ringside. Furthermore, WWE has not yet provided a formal response to the alegations of assault and battery.
It also remains to be seen how the court will address the claims regarding the unauthorized commercial use of Lucas's identity .. A case management hearing for the matter is currently scheduled for December 10.
Comments 0