POOR ME

Ref Who Cut Black Teen Wrestler’s Dreads Says He’s Suffering ‘Emotional Distress’

Suspended after he made black student choose between keeping his dreadlocks of forfeiting his match.

The New Jersey scholastic referee who forced a black teen wrestler to choose between having his dreadlocks cut or forfeiting a match has taken a step toward filing a lawsuit alleging defamation of character and emotional distress. Referee Alan Maloney caused fury when he refused to allow Buena High School wrestler Andrew Johnson to go ahead with his match unless his dreadlocks were cut off. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports Maloney has now sent a notice of tort claim to 12 possible defendants in which he alleges that he has lost $100,000 in income since the incident. The possible suit comes amid two pending investigations into the December match. The notice says Maloney has not been scheduled to officiate since December. “I think he’s just covering his bases,” said Dominic Speziali, a Philadelphia lawyer who represents Johnson and his family. “To the extent that he plans to file a claim as a victim in this incident is outright absurd.”