Dana White doubles down on condemning Josh Hokit’s Michelle Obama remarks. UFC CEO Dana White has once again made it clear that he wants no association with Josh Hokit’s controversial comments about former U.S. First Lady. Michelle Obama following the historic UFC White House event.
The controversy began after Hokit scored a victory at the UFC White House card and used his post-fight interview to make a derogatory remark about Michelle Obama. The comment sparked widespread backlash from fans, fighters, and members of the MMA community. Speaking on The Pivot podcast, White described Hokit’s post-fight remarks as “gross,” “inappropriate,” and “f***ing moronic,” stressing that they overshadowed what he believed was one of the UFC’s most successful events to date.
“Barack and Michelle Obama are public figures and when you’re a public figure, it’s part of the game,” White said. “But what I don’t like, first of all former First Lady of the United States, No. 1. No. 2, a wife, a mother. It’s f*cking gross. Inappropriate. The timing of it and everything. I think that people understand that is not — there are people that you can’t talk to and you can’t change their mind — obviously not the opinion of the UFC. Not my opinion or anybody else that fought on that card.
“It was a really unfortunate thing that happened that night. When you hit this f*cking grand slam homerun and have a perfect event in every way that it could be, you’ve got a f*cking moronic [comment like that]. But other than that, it was a great f*cking night. What are you going to do?” White also revealed that he was unaware of Hokit’s comments until after the event had concluded. By then, the incident had already become one of the biggest talking points from the historic White House card.
“I could go f*cking mental on this show but I won’t,” White said. “It was gross. I didn’t even hear it until after the event. I didn’t know he had said it. Like right when he said it there, I didn’t know he said it.” “Unfortunately when you talk about freedom of speech, it’s usually the grossest stuff that has to be protected,” White said. “You can’t talk about freedom of speech and then pick and choose what [is allowed]. I don’t love it all the time but it is what it is. “I don’t love my stance on freedom of speech all the time but it has to be protected.”
While the UFC White House event was widely praised for its production, atmosphere, and historic setting, White admitted that Hokit’s remarks left a stain on what he otherwise considered a landmark night for the promotion.
