Besides his syndicated radio show, Bubba the Love Sponge (aka Todd Clem) is the TV backstage interviewer for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) in Tampa. Now one of the wrestlers is suing Bubba for making a racist phone call to her live on his radio show. There is, however, one problem with the allegation.
Kia Stevens, who wrestles as “Awesome Kong” charges in her state court lawsuit that Bubba said on his January 19th radio show that she had physically attacked him at the previous night’s TV taping due to remarks he had made critical of the need for Americans to help restore earthquake ravaged Haiti.
Then, charged Stevens, someone using a phone that blocked caller ID called her at her home on February 10th at 5:08 am, said he was Bubba the Love Sponge and that they were on the air. He then went into a racist tirade and threatened physical violence. According to Stevens, who is black, the caller used the n-word and called her “Monkey Kong.” She said the voice sounded like Bubba, based on her knowledge of his voice.
She has not only sued Bubba, but also AT&T for refusing to supply the subscriber identification of the blocked call.
Bubba insists that none of the allegations are true – and he can prove it.
“We can prove without any doubt the allegations made in this petition are false. First Ms. Stevens claims that she was called on the air, at 5:08 AM on February 10th, we are not even on the air until 6 AM Eastern time. We have phone records and eye witnesses that account for my every movement that day from 4:50 AM forward. No call was made to Ms. Stevens at all,” Bubba said in an email statement to RBR-TVBR.
“We will be pursuing all legal remedies available to us in the State of Florida to fight these deliberately malicious allegations,” he added.
At this point, Stevens is not seeking specific damages, but rather a “bill of discovery” from the court which would compel the phone company to provide information under subpoena. That will enable her to use the information to sue for damages.
