Wrestling Ref Who Forced Student To Cut Dreadlocks Is Suing For Defamation

BYAlexander Cole1.7K Views
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High School Wrestling
The referee believes they did nothing wrong.

Back in December, high school wrestling referee Alan Maloney made waves in the worst way possible as he asked Buena High School wrestler Andrew Johnson to cut off his dreads, or he'd have to forfeit his match. The clip of Johnson shaving his dreads in the gym ended up going viral and outrage ultimately ensued. People started to do some digging on Maloney and actually found out that he had a pretty racist past. According to TMZ Sports, Maloney hasn't officiated a single wrestling tournament since and now, the disgraced ref is suing the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association for defamation.

The lawsuit is reportedly worth upwards of $100,000 as Maloney feels as though his name has been dragged through the mud. In his letter to the NJSIAA, Maloney says that Johnson's hair was too long as stipulated in the rules laid out by their own organization. He believes he gave Johnson a fair amount of time to either wear a head covering or get his hair cut and that in the end, he was just following protocol.

Despite being told to shave off his dreads, Johnson overcame adversity and ended up helping his team to win the tournament. Thanks to his victories out on the mat, the school ended up qualifying for the regional championships.


About The Author
Alexander Cole is the current Managing Editor of HotNewHipHop. He started at HotNewHipHop back in 2018 where he began as a Sports and Sneakers writer. During this time, he has shown an expertise in Air Jordans, Yeezys, and all things that have to do with Nike. His favorite kicks are the Air Jordan 1 High OG, the Air Jordan 4, the Air Jordan 6, and the Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 in the "Beluga 2.0" colorway. Although his collection might not be the biggest, he is always looking to add new styles to it. When it comes to sports, Alex has a particular interest in the NBA and the NFL. His favorite teams are anywhere LeBron goes, and the Kansas City Chiefs. As a Montrealer, the Montreal Canadiens hold a special place in his heart, even if they haven't won the Stanley Cup in his lifetime. Alex also works for the Concordia Stingers, where he provides play-by-play and color commentary for the football, hockey, and basketball teams His favorite hip-hop artists are Kendrick Lamar, Playboi Carti, Travis Scott, and Lil Uzi Vert.
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