How should this be handled?

[The Curmudgeon]

So the WWE recently introduced two characters that were seemingly pulled from the 1980's Big Book of Stereotypes. Namely, Evil Russians. Not only Evil Russians, but America hating Evil Russians. Aren't those guys just the worst?

It's fairly embarrassing, juvenile stuff that brings out the usual "USA! USA!" Chants and, well, here's an example.

WWE lana 2014 Americans! your secrets are safe !: youtu.be/l0_N7nbcX2s

You get the idea.

So all of this stuff was happening every week, with the brave American wrestlers unable to beat Rusev, while Lana looked smokin' and insulted the States. Whatever. Then, you know, the missile attack happened.

This lead most people to believe that the angle and characters would be quietly removed from television in interest of decency and sensitivity, because if wrestling is one thing, it's sensitive. But last night at a PPV, the first time WWE has been on air since the plane attack, Lana made a slight reference to "recent events" and then continued with her anti-American shtick. And everyone lost their shit. It even made news over here in, like, real newspapers and things.

thecount.com/2014/07/20/wwe-lana-malaysian-crash-comments/#fji1405939069343

So what should they have done here? Continued with the storyline? Abandoned it? Other TV shows make reference to current events, why can't wrestling? Or is the tacky, cartoonish gimmick still too offensive after "recent events"?

[trashcanman]

Hypersensitive bullshit. The whole anti-American thing seems particularly stupid in the post-Reagan era, especially since Russia has hardly been America's primary worry since then. They haven't heard of North Korea or China, or are nonwhite stereotypes the only caricatures that are racist and lame? Oh my God, someone in another country did a bad thing and it's the entire country's fault! Nobody ever speak of this again or somebody's feelings will get hurt!