#CancelColbert is so last week.
Wrestling fans and general Nancy Grace non-fans were up in arms Thursday over her on-air remarks about the sudden death of WWE legend Ultimate Warrior, during which she rattled off a list of the sport's fallen that—at least she certainly appears to be implying—died young because of possible steroid use or other drug abuse.
Ultimate Warrior, born James Brian Hellwig, died Tuesday, just days after being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame and then appearing at WrestleMania 30 on Sunday. He collapsed while he and his wife were walking to their car outside of an Arizona hotel and was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. Hellwig was 54.
"So many wrestlers dead," Grace said to in-studio guest Diamond Dallas Page. "Now accusations of steroids and illegal drugs swirling—take a look at wrestlers who died young," she added as a scrolling graphic displayed a list of names including Rick McGraw, 30; Buzz Sawyer, 32; and Owen Hart, 33.
"We all used it back in the day," Page said frankly with regard to steroids, but he noted that Ultimate Warrior didn't look nearly as big as he used to be and he had just seen the man and he "looked great."
In addition to the implication about Ultimate Warrior, the inclusion on the list of Hart, who died in 1999 after a freak accident during a Pay-Per-View event, immediately sent those in the know rushing for Twitter, where #CancelNancyGrace became a national trending topic.
"I don't understand why Nancy Grace has the forum that she does to skew info. Owen Hart died from a fall not from steroids #CancelNancyGrace," tweeted Justin Henri.
"#CancelNancyGrace because she probably thinks Abraham Lincoln died of steroid abuse," added David Wilcox.
"Sign the petition. #CancelNancyGrace#WWE," The Fans Podcast got in on the action with a link to the inevitable Change.org petition for her dismissal.
And so on. Here's a sampling:
Sign the petition. #CancelNancyGrace #WWE http://t.co/ctHuS3Tfy0
? The Fans Podcast (@TheFansPodcast) April 10, 2014
i'm all for #CancelNancyGrace. shut her obnoxious self up.
? Fern (@ButtercupD) April 10, 2014
OMFG i'm so sick of the media #NancyGrace @CNN talking about Pro Wrestling only when there is a death they are scum. #CancelNancyGrace
? Justin (@TNAWWEGuy) April 10, 2014
I don?t understand why Nancy Grace has the forum that she does to skew info. Owen Hart died from a fall not from steroids #CancelNancyGrace
? Justin Henri (@JustinHenri23) April 10, 2014
#CancelNancyGrace because she probably thinks Abraham Lincoln died of steroid abuse.
? David Wilcox (@drwilcox) April 10, 2014
#CancelNancyGrace not just for insulting Ultimate Warrior and wrestlers in general, but for being rotten to EVERYONE she has on her show.
? Adorable Fluttershy (@TheRideNevaEnds) April 10, 2014
#CancelNancyGrace is tending. It's only right to have it cancelled for Warrior & Owen Hart ?? pic.twitter.com/GhNcz4Qvy0
? Congrats Braniel (@live_life0212) April 10, 2014
1 more time shaking the ropes with OWN written on my hand in honor of @UltimateWarrior #RIPWarrior #CancelNancyGrace pic.twitter.com/RrFwlTxSUW
? Kamron Chervenak (@ShowTimeKamron) April 10, 2014
HEY @NancyGraceHLN read this and try to learn from your mistakes you dumbass pic.twitter.com/B2R22CNFGq
? Tim Vicious (@timvicious) April 10, 2014