WWE Confirms Zelina Vega Was Fired For “Breach Of Contract”
WWE breaks silence on Zelina Vega's controversial release.
WWE has finally commented on its decision to release Zelina Vega over the weekend, telling Sports Illustrated’s Justin Barrasso that the 29-year-old was let go for “breach of contract” after failing to adhere to the promotion’s third-party content ban.
A few months ago, Vince McMahon issued a company-wide edict preventing his independent contractors from using services like Twitch to boost their incomes, threatening to fine, suspend, or release anyone who didn’t comply. Vega defied this by opening an OnlyFans account charging $30 a month for access to various photoshoots, which is said to be what triggered WWE’s decision.
It has been reported that Zelina was making more money from streaming on her Twitch account than she was through wrestling activities. She was earning at least $432,420 a year from Twitch streaming prior to her dismissal, as calculated by @WrestleCritic on Twitter.
Vega has since returned to Twitch, breaking her silence following this weekend’s release, stating that she is fine with going down as “someone who stood up for themselves.” AEW’s Miro (a prominent streamer himself) has praised Zelina for her decision.
SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris has now promised to “directly engage” with wrestlers on the issue, as the unionisation topic continues to heat up.