Nash Carter issues apology for Hitler photo that led to WWE release

Zachary Wentz (former NXT Tag Team Champion Nash Carter) has issued his first comments since being released by WWE.

Wentz (real name Zachary Green) was released by WWE this April following social media posts made by his estranged wife Kimber Lee (Kimberly Green). Lee alleged that Wentz hit her so hard last year that he split her lip open, and she also tweeted a photo of Wentz impersonating Adolf Hitler with his mustache shaved and giving a Nazi salute.

Wentz was kept on NXT television after the abuse allegation but was released from his contract after the Hitler photo surfaced. Wentz was one-half of the NXT Tag Team Champions at the time of his release.

In a statement posted on his Twitter account on Monday night, the 28-year-old Wentz apologized for the photo and wrote that he’s ashamed of his behavior.

“This picture was taken in 2015, a time where I was uneducated on the topic and therefore didn’t understand the magnitude of how hurtful it was,” Wentz wrote. “In 2020 someone was trying to extort me by threatening to post it on social media. I sent it to my wife to discuss the situation. Apparently, she kept it and then decided in retaliation for the filing of the divorce to post it to social media. Regardless how the photograph came to light, there is still no excuse for my actions.”

Wentz’s full statement is available below:

A statement by Zachary Green.

No words can truly describe how ashamed and apologetic I am for my conduct in the photograph. There is no excuse for such behavior and I take full responsibility for my actions and ask for forgiveness. This picture was taken in 2015, a time where I was uneducated on the topic and therefore didn’t understand the magnitude of how hurtful it was. In 2020 someone was trying to extort me by threatening to post it on social media. I sent it to my wife to discuss the situation. Apparently, she kept it and then decided in retaliation for the filing of the divorce to post it to social media. Regardless how the photograph came to light, there is still no excuse for my actions.

Over the past month I have taken time to reflect on my conduct to which I express my utmost remorse and regret. I have spent time off social media to refresh and re-educate myself about of the horrors of the Holocaust. I truly do hope that this situation will teach and bring awareness to the horrific tragedy that took place so that something like this will never happen again. I can assure you that this is not who I am or what I represent as a human being, and I feel it is never too late to educate and better yourself.

If you are ever in the Orlando/Maitland area, take some time to visit the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida where you can learn about the history and depth of what took place. It was an incredibly eye-opening, and impactful experience that teaches the importance of this history.

Wentz is returning to the ring at a show for Circle 6 & No Peace Underground in Orlando, Florida this Saturday.