UPDATED: Ric Flair Issues Statement Regarding Dark Side Of The Ring Allegations
Allegations were made against Flair during 'The Plane Ride From Hell' episode
Sep 21, 2021
Ric Flair has issued a statement denying accusations of sexual misconduct levelled against him in the most recent episode of Dark Side Of The Ring.
'The Plane Ride From Hell' episode of Dark Side Of The Ring premiered last week, taking a detailed look back at the infamous WWE-chartered flight back to the United States from England in 2002. Allegations of inappropriate behaviour against Flair were made during the episode by Heidi Doyle, a flight attendant working on the chartered plane.
Director Rory Karpf, who worked on ESPN's '30 for 30' documentary regarding Ric Flair, said in an interview with Wrestling Inc. on Monday that, while the documentary covered Flair exposing himself on the flight, he had not heard that Flair had 'forced someone to touch his genitals'.
Flair has now issued his own statement, pointing to Karpf's interview, denying all allegations.
In a statement posted on his Twitter feed, Flair said: "Every person that I've worked with, from my lawyer to my publicist to my wife has said not to post a response; but I've never run from past behaviors before and I'm not going to start now.
"I want to clarify a few things:
"About four years ago, I gave ESPN full access to my life for a "30 for 30" special. They covered taxes, financial issues, adultery, divorces, the passing of my child and drinking/partying AT LENGTH.
"Rory [Karpf], desperate to matter for another 15 minutes, did an interview about it this morning. When Rory's lips are moving, he's typically lying, but one part of what he said was the God's honest truth:
"'I'd never heard that he had forced someone to touch his genitals,' Karpf admitted. 'Everything with Ric that was construed as negative I tried to address in the 30 for 30. His drinking, his philandering, his adultery, his money problems, there's quite a bit, but never, at least in the people that I spoke to, no one ever brought up that he would force himself on somebody.'
"I allowed my personal life and the lives of my wife and children to be turned upside down for one reason: Whether it's good or bad, even the really bad, the truth has to matter. Even in wrestling.
"My issues have been well documented over my 40+ year career. The impact of drinking too much (which nearly killed me 5 years ago) has been told time and time and time again. The reason Rory (or anyone else for that matter) never heard stories of me forcing myself on ANYONE is simple: it never happened."
In an update, Flair has issued a follow-up statement to Wrestling Inc, adding:
"To clarify, the 'helicopter' as it was called, is accurate. I wish I could blame it on youth, but it was a case of drinking too much and being inappropriate and I apologize for that (and have countless times over the years).
"I made some bad decisions during dark periods in my life, and it is something I’ve spent a significant part of years I was given by the doctors in 2017 trying to make right.
"I condemn sexual assault in any way, shape or form. I could (and have) written books (as have others) that have covered my transgressions. I’ve made some terrible decisions, but I’ve never forced myself on anyone in any way. Period."
