The ongoing controversy surrounding Tessa Blanchard overshadowed her match at TNA Slammiversary 2025, as fans inside the UBS Arena made their feelings clear. During her bout against Indi Hartwell, a significant portion of the crowd began loudly chanting, “She’s a racist,” a moment that commanded attention away from the in-ring action.
The chants are a direct response to allegations that first surfaced in 2020. Several female wrestlers, including Allysin Kay, accused Blanchard of bullying and, most notably, using a racial slur against wrestler La Rosa Negra during a tour in Japan. The woman at the center of that specific incident, who wrestles as Black Rose, later confirmed it occurred.
These accusations emerged while Blanchard was the reigning IMPACT World Champion, leading to her being stripped of the title and the termination of her contract. Despite her denials and a recent return to a prominent role in TNA, the fan backlash has persisted. It has been a consistent feature at live events since her return, with similar chants breaking out during a TNA Impact taping in February 2025.
TNA’s handling of the situation has also drawn criticism. The promotion released a controversial “I Hate Tessa” t-shirt earlier this year, a move many fans saw as an attempt to monetize the controversy rather than address it.
WWE performer Chelsea Green, one of the original wrestlers to speak out, has remained a vocal critic, highlighting that Blanchard has never issued a direct apology for the alleged actions. “A simple ‘I am sorry’ goes a long way. We haven’t heard that yet,” Green stated in January 2025. “Accountability matters, and a redemption tour of interviews won’t erase the actions of an egotistical bully.” The scene at Slammiversary indicates that for a vocal part of the audience, accountability remains the central issue.