WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash has walked back controversial comments made about Je’Von Evans, a rising star on the company’s Raw roster, and addressed the ensuing backlash on a recent episode of his “Kliq This” podcast.
Nash initially critiqued Evans’ on-screen persona, praising his athleticism but suggesting he lacked “edge” and was “a little bit too f—ing Mr. Bojangles for me,” according to reports from Sports Illustrated and F4WOnline. He further stated he wished Evans would project a more “urban” image. The remarks quickly drew criticism, with many observers pointing to the racial implications of the “Mr. Bojangles” reference, a term considered a racial stereotype with a problematic history in entertainment.
Nash initially issued an apology via Twitter, specifically for the use of the term “Mr. Bojangles,” stating it was “in poor taste and obviously offensive.” He explained his intention was to suggest a more contemporary character for Evans, comparing the desired persona to that of NFL wide receiver Randy Moss, a generational talent, as reported by F4WOnline. He later deleted the initial apology.
Expanding on his views during the podcast, Nash reiterated his belief in Evans’ potential, stating the WWE star “could be a f—ing generational talent” if he were a wide receiver in the NFL. However, he as well expressed frustration with how WWE chose to showcase Evans, specifically referencing Evans’ pairing with rapper Offset during a recent Raw appearance in Atlanta, Offset’s hometown. Nash interpreted this pairing as validation of his initial critique, questioning why WWE didn’t choose a different pairing, such as Reba McEntire, “She’s got a name,” Nash said, according to F4WOnline.
Evans responded to the controversy indirectly, posting on Instagram with the nWo Wolfpac theme music, a move interpreted by some as a defiant response to Nash’s comments, as reported by F4WOnline. Evans recently competed in an Elimination Chamber qualifying match on Raw, defeating Kofi Kingston, but ultimately did not win the Elimination Chamber match at the PLE on February 28, which was won by Randy Orton. Orton will now challenge Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 42.
The incident comes as Evans is relatively new to the main WWE roster, having been called up earlier this year. He has quickly gained attention for his unique and high-flying offense, a staple of his act since his time in NXT, according to SI.com.
