Last night, on the eve of his brother Jeff’s birthday, professional wrestler Matt Hardy posted a youtube video that was for all intents and purposes a suicide note. He followed this up shortly with a Twitter post that only said “Goodbye” with a link to the video. In the hours following, it became very clear thanks to Matt’s sister-in-law Beth that this was all part of a stunt Matt was pulling; part of some “work” he was taking part in to give his character a “rebirth.”
Now, I follow just about jack all of wrestling these days. I’ll admit, I’ve Youtubed the hell out of CM Punk’s stuff lately, but outside of that, not much. From what I’ve read and seen, Matt left the WWE and went to TNA, where he showed up bloated and barely in condition to work before a DUI got him fired. Previous to that, he made something of a “name” (and that’s not a good thing) for himself by posting erratic and bizarre videos on YT.
But for a short while last night, people believed Matt to be dead. And as a former fan of the business and a former fan of his, I was more than a little heartbroken to see the Twitter feed start to roll on until Beth made it clear that Matt was alive and…okay, not well, but alive.
I have serious issues with this stunt, from a personal point of view. A little over a year ago, I tried something very stupid myself (and it wasn’t the first time in my life), and thankfully, I wasn’t able to do it. It was a moment that has defined my life since and everything since has wrapped around it in one way or another. Just two nights ago, the police tried to break my door down after my family notified them in concern. I was fine; under the weather and not paying attention to Facebook, but fine nonetheless. But that’s what I have to go through now until I can earn the trust back from others that I’m not going to do that again.
Less than two months after my attempt, a co-worker and valued friend took her life. Going further back, my father lost his battle with his demons the same way. In one way or another, I’ve had this surrounding me my entire life. And because of that, I have serious – SERIOUS – issues with Matt and what he did.
A few hours ago, Matt meekly posted a half-assed apology in a way that almost tried to blame everyone else for not “getting” it. That it was part of a work (for those not familiar with wrestling terminology, a work is – for all intents and purposes- when you do something in a way that makes it appear real. Wrestling in and of itself a work, in that manner, and there are works within it).
Matt, the last time I looked, you were and are unemployed. You don’t work for WWE or TNA. You had no reason to pull this stunt outside of the confines of the business. There was no storyline. There was no blowoff. There was nothing except you being your usual, careless, unthinking self wanting more attention. I am the LAST person to accuse others of being attention whores. I know all too well those screaming the loudest sometimes actually mean it. But what you did…
Fuck you, Matt Hardy. With the most professionalism I can muster in this moment, that is the only thing I can vocalize of it. You took something that destroys lives and families and you mocked it for your “rebirth.” And what, exactly, was that rebirth? I look today and, guess what? Same old Matt Hardy as yesterday. Except now you have the disdain and scorn of hundreds of your former fans who feel used and abused by you.
Matt, seek help. You need it. You seriously need it. If you ever by chance run across this while Googling yourself, and I have no doubt you do exactly that sort of thing, read what I’ve said and let it sink in a little. You need serious help.
Also? Grow up.