wrestling / News

UPDATED: Spike TV Executive Says Austin Aries Will Be Disciplined – Says Company Has Zero Tolerance For Sexual Harassment

May 14, 2013 | Posted by Larry Csonka

UPDATED: Dixie Carter has chimed in on the Austin Aries/Christy Hemme incident on Impact, posting to Twitter:

TNA has ZERO tolerance for inappropriate behavior. The incident with Austin Aries was taken very seriously and handled immediately.

— Dixie Carter (@TNADixie) May 14, 2013

ORIGINAL: David Schwarz, Spike TV’s senior VP/communications, says Austin Aries will be disciplined for the incident involving Aries and Christy Hemme on last Thursday’s Impact. Schwarz had the following to say about the situation…

“We have a zero tolerance policy for sexual harassment. We discussed [the incident] with our partner. [Aries is] being disciplined. I’m trying to get more information on what action is being taken. Dixie Carter took this very personally. He will be disciplined. Again, we have a zero tolerance policy for sexual harassment. I’m not sure specifically how [the discipline] will be handled. To what extent, I don’t know. This is certainly something we don’t condone and don’t tolerate. Such behavior is not welcome.

When Schwarz was asked if Aries’ punishment would become public, he added the following…

“I think that a statement of some sort will be coming. That’s being worked out. But immediate action will be taken.”