Former WWE NXT star Ava (Simone Johnson) has addressed the backlash she received over a divisive social media post.
Appearing on The Downside with Gianmarco Soresi podcast, the former NXT General Manager reflected on the overwhelming negative reaction to a comment she made in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s death in 2025.
“I was quite used to getting hated on by wrestling fans and I was like, ‘All right, whatever. Fine.’ I’m used to that, blah blah, sh*tting on me because of who my dad is. They’d be calling me every type of slur, but that’s from wrestling fans. However, there were so many angry conservative men that I was like, ‘You don’t even know who I am.’” [H/T NoDQ.com]
For those unaware, Ava’s post suggested that the way people remember someone after they’re gone is shaped by how that person treated others during their lifetime. She later stood by her remarks, adding: “And I’ll stand behind this. Be kind, now more than ever.”
Simone Garcia Johnson had a six-year stint with WWE. In 2020, she made headlines as the first fourth-generation wrestler to sign a contract with the company.
She made her WWE NXT in-ring debut in October 2022 as a member of Joe Gacy’s Schism faction. Following the group’s disbandment, Ava became Shawn Michaels’ on-screen assistant before eventually becoming the youngest General Manager in the brand’s history.
On January 30, 2026, Ava announced that she had elected not to renew her WWE contract, bringing her six-year tenure with the promotion to an end.
During the interview with Soresi, Johnson also explained what led to her leaving WWE, noting that she has no regrets over the decision.
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