TMZ - The drama began when Ron "R-Truth" Killings hit up the audience for a
smoke ... and actually LIT UP right in front of them ... including
several children.
But the on-screen cig-fest didn't sit so well with anti-smoking activist Patrick Reynolds
-- Executive Director of TobaccoFree.org -- who has officially issued a
challenge to the wrestler ... to publicly apologize for the smoking
stunt.
Reynolds -- ironically the grandson of tobacco magnate R.J. Reynolds -- tells TMZ, "For him to smoke in front of [children] is irresponsible. At best, it's
thoughtless, and at worst, if he calculated appealing to kids by posing
as a bad-boy outlaw, it's evil."
Reynolds adds, "If he wants help in quitting, I'll be happy to be his personal coach."
The
WWE issued a statement to TMZ defending the cigarette incident --
saying, "The negative effect smoking has on one’s health and physical
performance was a part of a storyline on last night’s Monday Night Raw.
Negative depictions of tobacco use on television are not unusual and
can be seen on other TV-PG shows."
First off Patrick, I would watch what you say to these roid heads, they might snap on you for asking for an apology. Second, 90% of these little red-neck kids are probably going to grow up smoking anyway so I doubt seeing one person smoke in their lifetime is going to change much. Last but not least, I don't think this guy needs your help quitting because he probably doesn't really smoke anyway as it was part of a TV SHOW.
I love how Vince McMahon jumped all over this and instantly had a statement telling this Jabroni to get off their ass.
-Dow
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