:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55465443/20170626_raw_ballsexclusive__8c7552c34ac956b1c2ebbc214e1beb7d.0.jpg)
During the unpredictable Miz TV segment with guest stars the Ball Family on Raw last night (June 26) from Los Angeles, Lavar Ball’s 15 year old Lamelo picked up his microphone while his father was threatening to fight the Intercontinental champion and twice said “beat the [n-word] ass”.
It went out to the crowd in the Staples Center and the live broadcast on USA Network, and stood out as a particularly wild moment in a stretch of television full of them. According to Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer’s sources, “backstage was chaos” while the Balls were on, with Vince McMahon and Kevin Dunn particularly unhappy when Lamelo’s statement was heard by fans.
The Los Angeles Times reached out to WWE as, despite the company’s efforts to pull down their own video of the scene, clips of the moment and the youngest Ball’s words trended on social media. WWE responded with the following:
The inappropriate language used by a guest during the 'Miz TV' segment was not scripted nor reflects WWE's values.
If controversy truly equals cash, WWE got what they wanted from the Balls. But if you’re left disavowing a high school student you gave a live microphone, you have to wonder if it was worth it.