WWE performer Sami Zayn, real name Rami Sebei, has become the focus of serious allegations of antisemitism. In late April 2025, Zayn quietly deleted a controversial Twitter (X) post only after an Israeli news outlet contacted WWE executives. His removal of the post followed months of complaints by Jewish activists and fans who had compiled screenshots and videos of Zayn’s statements. According to the Jewish News Syndicate, WWE has received “repeated alerts: screenshots, videos, and documentation revealing a disturbing pattern in Sami Zayn’s public activity.” These reports say Zayn has “promoted antisemitic and anti-Zionist content on social media and in public appearances,” including “liking hate pages, sharing inflammatory articles, and even wearing shirts by bands openly anti-Zionist.” In one recent incident at a live event, Zayn was filmed cursing at Israeli fans, then taunted them hours later with the tweet “hoes stay mad.” WWE’s silence, at least until pressured by the press, has raised serious concerns in the Jewish community.
The evidence presented by these reports is stark. Investigators cite multiple online posts and actions by Zayn that Jewish groups say cross the line into hateful anti-Israel propaganda. For example, in November 2023, Zayn “liked” a linked article titled “Israel’s Final Solution for the Palestinians.” That piece (by Pulitzer-winning journalist Chris Hedges) merged a Star of David with a Nazi flag and accused Israel of genocide. Media analysis shows his social accounts are filled with similar content: he followed Twitter/X accounts calling for “Israel’s destruction” and reposted memes likening Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler One September 2024 post showed an armed Palestinian child bearing a sign reading “Act now before it’s too late,” an obvious call to violence against Israel. His public praise for the Irish rap group Kneecap, famous for screen-projected slogans like “Fk Israel. Free Palestine,” was also noted. “A few months ago,” Israel Hayom reports, Zayn “shared enthusiastic praise” for a Kneecap documentary; just last month, that band displayed the obscenity “Fk Israel. Free Palestine” on a Coachella stage while Yair Lapid, Naftali Bennett, and other Israeli leaders looked on.
Observers point out that this anti-Israel messaging has a long history for Zayn. In 2018, during a Gaza border escalation, he posted a famous photograph of a Palestinian youth with a slingshot under the flag. Three years later, he tweeted: “There is no viable moral defense for stealing people’s homes based on their ethnicity,” with hashtags #FreePalestine #SaveSheikhJarrah. That post, among others, was quietly taken down after pro-Israel organizations contacted WWE. In short, insiders say years of pro-Palestinian activism have suddenly been reframed as outright antisemitism. Jewish watchdogs insist the distinction between anti-Zionism and antisemitism is moot in these cases. As one Israeli editorial observed, in 2024, Zayn “liked” content accusing Israel of a “Final Solution” and shared images “celebrating” terror attacks. Activists are calling it a pattern of antisemitism, supported by documented screenshots and videos.
Key Allegations and Incidents:
- Promotion of Nazi-Rhetoric Content: Zayn reportedly “liked” an X post linking to an article entitled “Israel’s final solution for the Palestinians”, which featured a Nazi flag with a Star of David and accused Israel of genocide. He also reposted content comparing Israeli leaders to Hitler and followed accounts advocating Israel’s destruction.
- Hate Slogans and Symbols: He publicly praised a documentary about Kneecap (an anti-Israel rap band) and shared footage of their Coachella act projecting “Fk Israel. Free Palestine.” on stage. Critically, his wife Khadijah Sebei has shared posts such as “Eradicate Zionism” and “Zionism = Terrorism,” even posting an Oct. 7 (2023) massacre tribute with watermelon emojis – all seen as glorifying violence against Jews.
- On-Air “Resistance” Speech: On WWE’s Monday Night RAW (Oct. 30, 2023), Zayn, in character, delivered a promo decrying “ruling with an iron fist” and identifying himself with “resistance”. Fans interpreted lines like “My name is not Sami Zayn, my name is rebellion, my name is resistance” as a coded reference to Gaza’s war. WWE later removed that entire segment from its YouTube channel.
- Verbal Harassment: At a live WWE event (April 2025), Zayn was videotaped hurling insults at Israeli fans in the crowd. Hours later, he taunted them with the post “hoes stay mad.” These actions, repeated many times, have prompted fans and groups to accuse Zayn of engaging in blatant anti-Jewish bullying.
In response to the media scrutiny, Zayn and WWE have been uncharacteristically quiet. After Israel Hayom contacted WWE on April 25, 2025, with formal inquiries, Zayn deleted the offending tweet within two hours. The wrestler himself has made no apology or clarification. WWE issued no statement. Jewish organizations report that “dozens of complaints” have now been lodged with WWE and its owner, the TKO Group (which includes UFC), over Zayn’s conduct. (Notably, TKO’s board includes several prominent Jewish members.) Many fans, journalists, and community leaders say it is time WWE acknowledge these claims rather than sweep them under the rug.
Community Reaction & Implications: This controversy is unfolding amid a broader global surge in antisemitic incidents. Pro-Israel activists argue that public figures like Zayn have a responsibility to avoid fueling that tide. They point out that WWE markets itself as a family brand and professes values of tolerance, yet a top star’s repeated anti-Israel sloganeering has gone unchecked. As one editorial bluntly noted, “In an era when antisemitic content spreads rapidly, especially among younger audiences, silence from a cultural force like WWE is not just inaction, it’s a message.” Fans, parents, and Jewish groups are calling on WWE to explicitly denounce hatred and clarify its values. They warn that if WWE does not address the evidence, videos, screenshots, and eyewitnesses, it risks normalizing the very extremism it claims to oppose.
For now, the accusations remain allegations, but the evidence circulated in media outlets is forcing a conversation that WWE can no longer ignore. Sami Zayn’s case illustrates how anti-Israel sentiment can appear on mainstream platforms under the guise of “pro-Palestinian” activism. The Israeli and Jewish community watchers say this episode is a wake-up call: even a global entertainment company must remain vigilant against antisemitism. As pressure mounts, all eyes will be on whether WWE stands by its champion or distances itself from rhetoric that many consider hateful.