AEW’s Leyla Hirsch issues statement on Russian invasion of Ukraine

AEW’s Leyla Hirsch issued a statement Thursday noting her opposition to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Hirsch was born in Moscow, Russia, but was adopted at the age of eight and raised in New Jersey. She received criticism online from people upset that she wore Russian flag colors on her ring gear in her AEW Revolution Buy-In match against Kris Statlander, seen above. 

“I want to make something very clear. I stand with Ukraine one hundred percent and my heart breaks for its citizens who are suffering at the hands of Vladimir Putin. I was born in Russia. I came to the US at eight years of age and became an American citizen. I cannot change my heritage any more than any other citizen can change theirs. The mere fact that I was born in Russia does not mean that I support this brutal dictator. Everyone who would even suggest such a thing is simply wrong, plain and simple.” 

Hirsch did not wear the same colors on her gear for her match against Thunder Rosa on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite.