UPDATED: Ric Flair Issues Follow-Up Statement On Sexual Misconduct Allegations

UPDATED: Ric Flair has issued a second statement about the allegations against him of sexual misconduct during the “Plane Ride From Hell” as laid out in the Dark Side of the Ring episode. Flair gave a clarifying statement to Wrestling Inc in which he acknowledged that the infamous “helicopter” bit is accurate and apologizing for that, while again denying that he has ever forced himself on anyone “in any way.”

The statement reads:

“To clarify, the ‘helicopter’ as it was called, is accurate. I wish I could blame it on youth, but it was a case of drinking too much and being inappropriate and I apologize for that (and have countless times over the years).

I made some bad decisions during dark periods in my life, and it is something I’ve spent a significant part of years I was given by the doctors in 2017 trying to make right.

I condemn sexual assault in any way, shape or form. I could (and have) written books (as have others) that have covered my transgressions. I’ve made some terrible decisions, but I’ve never forced myself on anyone in any way. Period.”

ORIGINAL: Ric Flair has spoken out to address the allegations of sexual misconduct made against him on last week’s Dark Side Of the Ring, denying that he’s ever forced himself on anyone. As you surely know by now, Flair has been a topic of hot conversation after allegations from flight attendant Heidi Doyle that Flair cornered her while wearing nothing but a robe during the “Plane Ride From Hell” and put her hand on his genitals were brought to new light.

The situation has led to Flair’s ad campaign with Car Shield being paused, while he has is also no longer advertised for an appearance at New York Comic Con. WWE removed Flair from their opening video for their programming as well.

In the statement, Flair notes that everyone has told him not to respond but that he’s doing so anyway because he’s “never run from past behaviors before and I’m not going to start now.” He takes shots at Rory Kamp, who directed his 30 For 30 ESPN documentary, while referencing Kamp’s comments today that no one ever told him that he would force himself on anyone.

Flair concludes, “My issues have been well documented over my 40+ year career. The impact of drinking too much (which nearly killed me 5 years ago) has been told time and time and time again. The reason Rory (or anyone else for that matter) never heard stories of me forcing myself on ANYONE is simple: it never happened.”

You can see the full statement below:

“Every person that I’ve worked with, from my lawyer to my publicist to my wife has said to not post a response; but I’ve never run from past behaviors before and I’m not going to start now.

I want to clarify a few things:

About four years ago, I gave ESPN full access to my life for a “30 for 30” special. They covered taxes, financial issues, adultery, divorces, the passing of my child and drinking/partying AT LENGTH.

Rory Kamp, desperate to matter for another 15 minutes, did an interview about it this morning. When Rory’s lips are moving, he’s typically lying, but one part of what he said was the God’s honest truth:

“I’d never heard that he had forced someone to touch his genitals,” Karpf admitted. “Everything with Ric that was construed as negative I tried to address in the 30 for 30. His drinking, his philandering, his adultery, his money problems, there’s quite a bit, but never, at least in the people that I spoke to, no one ever brought up that he would force himself on somebody.”

I allowed my personal life and the lives of my wife and children to be turned upside down for one reason: Whether it’s good or bad, even the really bad, the truth has to matter. Even in wrestling.

My issues have been well documented over my 40+ year career. The impact of drinking too much (which nearly killed me 5 years ago) has been told time and time and time again. The reason Rory (or anyone else for that matter) never heard stories of me forcing myself on ANYONE is simple: it never happened.”

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— Ric Flair® (@RicFlairNatrBoy) September 21, 2021