Security guard Noel Lucas has launched legal action against WWE and wrestler Montez Ford over an incident that occurred during a live episode of Monday Night Raw.
During the July 6 episode, which was broadcast from the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois, Ford and Angelo Dawkins made their entrance through the crowd ahead of The Street Profits facing Bron Breakker and Austin Theory.
Ford then proceeded to gyrate and thrust in front of Lucas for around 30 seconds. Commentary also pointed out that Lucas was not enjoying the interaction, with Graves saying, “That guy clearly hates fun.”
As reported by POST Wrestling, Lucas, who is Cook County Sheriff’s officer who was working off-duty security, has filed the lawsuit against WWE and Ford, real name Kenneth Crawford, over what happened that night.
As well as alleging that Crawford performed an unwanted sexualized “lap dance” on him, Lucas has alleged “14 counts including assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and violations of the Illinois Gender Violence Act.”
Lucas is alleging that the footage was promoted without his consent, including on WWE’s social media channels, resulting in him becoming instantly recognisable. POST Wrestling details the effects this had on Lucas and his family the following days:
The next day, when he reported to work at his full-time job working at a courthouse, he alleges that “members of the public recognized him from the videos of the encounter that had circulated on social media and mocked him, thrusting their hips in his direction, imitating the sexual movements” that Crawford had performed on Raw the previous night.
Lucas adds that his children have also been “mocked and ridiculed” at school because of the video.
Lucas’ attorney noted that the officer works two jobs to provide for his children. In addition to his work in Cook County, Lucas supervises a team at Monterrey Security, which is how he landed the role at the WWE taping.
Lucas’ lawsuit also provides his account of what happened that night in Rosemont:
“Defendant Crawford then began performing a sexually provocative dance immediately in front of and over Plaintiff [Lucas], repeatedly thrusting and gyrating his hips and pelvis towards Plaintiff, performing a sexualized ‘lap dance.’”
The filing says Crawford “moved his body increasingly closer to [Lucas]; continued the lap dance.” The suit adds that Crawford’s “left inner thigh repeatedly rubbed against Plaintiff’s leg.”
Lucas is seeking monetary damages, his legal costs to be covered, and an order that WWE nor Crawford can use his identity.
A case management hearing is set for December 5. No statements from WWE or Crawford have been made at this time.
Montez Ford Segment Removed From WWE Broadcast
The aforementioned interaction can’t be seen on the on-demand version of the July 6 taping. Instead, the feed cuts to break during The Street Profits’ entrance. However, the clip is still easy to find on social media.
Featured image: WWE
