Ava has reflected on the backlash she received following a social media post that sparked controversy in the aftermath of the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in 2025.
The former WWE NXT General Manager, whose real name is Simone Johnson, addressed the situation during an appearance on comedian Gianmarco Soresi’s podcast, The Downside with Gianmarco Soresi (quotes courtesy of wrestlingnews.co). The controversy began in September 2025 when Ava shared a message from Soresi on social media that read:
“If you want people to have kind words when you pass, you should say kind things when you’re alive.” She later reposted the message on X and added, “and I’ll stand behind this. be kind, now more than ever.”
Although the post did not mention Kirk by name, it was shared shortly after the conservative commentator was fatally shot at a Turning Point USA event, leading to widespread criticism online. Some critics even called for WWE to release Ava.
Ava Said She Was Used To Receiving Criticism From Wrestling Fans
Looking back on the reaction, Ava said she was accustomed to criticism from wrestling fans, particularly given her status as the daughter of WWE legend Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
“The thing, I was quite used to getting hated on by wrestling fans, and I was like, ‘All right, whatever. Fine,” Ava said. “I’m used to that.”
However, she admitted that the volume of criticism from outside the wrestling world caught her by surprise.
“There were so many angry conservative men that I was like, ‘You don’t even know who I am,'” she added.
Despite the backlash, Ava did not retract her comments and publicly stood by the message she shared at the time. WWE also never issued a public statement regarding the controversy.
