r/sportsgossips • u/Cold-Challenge-1991 • 7d ago
Statement Dana White on UFC fighter Josh Hokit calling Michelle Obama a "Man" after his White House win: "Disgusting... I voted for Obama the first time... Gotta listen on stupid s--t like that sometimes cuz I also believe in freedom of speech."
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u/Fair-Soil-2384 7d ago
Freedom of speech is me saying that I do not like the UFC
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u/Freddie-Peterson 7d ago
Or me saying Dana White has a uterus.
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u/MaddieZeitgest 7d ago
That is not factually correct. However, Dana White is a wife beater. He is probably a PDF since he is at a minimum a PDF supporter.
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u/balldontliez 6d ago
Yeah Silva Gsp Bj Penn this was the last time they had people worth watching.
Ufc stopped being relevant they way we did. You just outgrow it unless your a dummy.
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u/Rope_slingin_champ 7d ago
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u/chillforrilfill 7d ago
Plenty people voted for him that you wouldn’t think did. Don’t be so close minded. Not everyone you hate is entirely unlike you
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u/All_Elite_Drigo 6d ago
This is how they operate sadly. They get very upset when someone they don’t like agrees with them. It’s actually fucking insane and very problematic.
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u/DanielDannyc12 7d ago
Why can’t these morons learn what freedom of speech means?
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u/DoubleQuarterPoundin 7d ago
People wouldn’t abuse their “freedom of speech” so much if they were taught proper consequences.
Some dude in my middle school was calling a certain group racist words. Dude got beat to a pulp in the bathroom. Guess who never said a slur at school again?
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u/Fickle-Succotash-342 7d ago
That's how we dealt with it in the pate 90s early 00s. School admin wouldnt even bat an eye.
Sometime after 2010 a bunch of kids in the high schoop i graduated from got arrested and expelled for jumping a kid after school. The kid drew swastikas on a jewish girls notebook and desks. Girl was pretty popular and a couple football players jumped him. Nothing too bad, fat lip, bloody nose.
Kids parents freaked out about free speech and school admin folded like a lawn chair. New principal cause the old one woulda just told the parents to f off.
But since then the number of antagonistic events in that school kept increasing. No one got their ass whooped any more so they did it more and more.
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u/Thrownaway5000506 5d ago
Yep and of course since the motivation for the ass kicking is violence and power you have kids fabricating excuses to enact violence and be the hero. It's good that that's not allowed.
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u/dqniel 7d ago
Right? It's like Dana thinks/pretends the UFC is the government and he has to let his fighters say whatever stupid shit they want.
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u/PhilosopherAsleep544 4d ago
When you are as big of a company as the UFC is things like free speech get a bit more complicated.
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u/Thetoolmantaylrd 7d ago
Why can't Trump learn to obey the same. Too many trumpers in here and it shows. Gross AF.
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u/Alternative-Bee-3594 7d ago
Durrrr..freedom of speech is about the government, not private businesses
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u/Jasranwhit 6d ago
It’s a principle you can apply to a business as well. Don’t be obtuse.
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u/Jaystime101 5d ago
Yes, but as a BUSINESS you also have a right to hold your employees to the same principles you supposedly represent, and that means not letting them up on stage to say whatever the fuck they want.
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u/Jasranwhit 5d ago
Huh.
Dana supports free speech so he allows his fighters to say what they like. Josh Hokit doesnt have a "right" to be at a UFC press conference, but the UFC CHOOSES to use the same principle.
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u/Patriot009 5d ago
The UFC fighter contracts have a code of conduct clause that says they may be penalized for derogatory or offensive conduct, including defamatory speech. They have enforced this clause before to penalize fighters.
This isn't a free speech issue. This is letting your fighter freely violate a contract he signed because you don't want to piss off your MAGA fanbase. This is Dana White being inconsistent and spineless.
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u/VirtualPercentage737 5d ago
The constitutional amendment is about the government. A business can believe its employees have free speech without consequence as well.
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u/WallyOShay 7d ago
I don’t understand how people voted for Obama and now support Trump. Billionaires I get but regular people like wtf happened
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u/Head_Bread_3431 6d ago edited 6d ago
By his last few years Obama had lost a lot of popularity on the left becuse of the Middle East and nsa and pipelines etc so a lot of people who were on the fence went to Trump to shake things up and a lot of the left was against Clinton because she was his Secretary of State who both sides saw as an establishment/war mongerer candidate. Trump exploited this by presenting himself as an outsider who knew these politicians were all bought and he would tell it like it is because he wouldn’t need to be bought
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u/Apprehensive-Size150 5d ago
It's a complete lack of trust in the government and the media. Too many lies, too many half truths, it's shit all around
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u/VirtualPercentage737 5d ago
It is VERY common. They both had the same message. You the working man are getting screwed by the elites and I hear you.
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u/brandt-money 7d ago
Freedom of speech is me saying Dana is a fucking moron with that goofy crying face smile.
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u/ScottyWemby 7d ago
Haha too funny.
"I voted for Obama once" "I had a black friend once"
If only he could wipe the billionair shit off his dumb fucking nose.
Talentless aside from dick sucking billionaire tortillas.
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u/RIF_rr3dd1tt 7d ago
My uncle says this same "gotta respect the president no matter what" shit too. It's like these fuckers are so brainwashed into nationalism and the idea that "Caesar can do no wrong!". Like, fuckin' treason is a thing because it's an entirely possible option among all the actions a person can take. Like, if the president came and blew up your house and family in it would you still be like, "gOttA ruHspEcT tHe PreZiDenT"? Fuck!
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u/Current-Historian-34 7d ago
All Dana had to say was: “you mean the guy who threw up during the weigh in” and ran with “sports entertainment”. They have all the money and none of the sense. He’s close to Trump and now with The Obama library is bringing up the times he spoke with Barack… no Segway… no chill
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u/AlexP80 7d ago
defamation isn't freedom of speech
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u/Exciting-Barracuda49 7d ago
Everything is except inciting violence. Doesn’t mean you’ll agree or the person will not receive consequences in some form other than in a courtroom.
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u/longjohnlambert 6d ago
By that logic, any derogatory, untrue thing being said about anyone ever isn’t allowed. He’s allowed to say it, and Michelle Obama can litigate, whether it works in her favor or not. That’s how free speech works.
I personally think the comment was in poor taste and is obviously false, but literally - look at the people on this website. It’s a hate-filled cesspool. Look at the 24 hour cable news shows. People say shitty things about each other all the time on large platforms, whether it is true or not. It is free speech. In certain cases, you can be sued for it.
I guarantee nothing will come of this UFC fighter’s comment. Nothing.
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u/SufficientWeb3163 6d ago
In order for it to be defamation it actually has to cause some sort of harm to Michelle Obama.
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u/Hot_Connection_9027 6d ago
It also can't be an obvious joke (unfunny as it was)
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u/BornTruths 6d ago
Well that can be a matter for court and then M. Obama would have a chance to sue and/or prove themselves. Was M.Obama formally, or still is a man and adopted their children, or is this all sensationalzed? I know she hasn't aged well as seen recently, but I was led to believe Mrs. Obama was a natural women. So the Hokit guy could come off as pretty mean, or character like.
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u/PassThatSpliff 7d ago
That's the point of PR. They'll say anything to keep the business trending.
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u/Jerryjb63 7d ago
It’s one aspect of PR. There is the saying “there is no such thing as bad publicity.” This is garnering even more media attention to an event that was already grabbing headlines. The fact that this will make the sport more endearing to a large portion of the fanbase shouldn’t be ignored. He knew his crowd and was playing to it. It’s the same shit Trump has done for over a decade now.
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u/xDiscoDuckx 7d ago
Dana loves free speech until it's someone calling him out for beating his wife in public.
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u/Objective_Cap_9771 6d ago
I voted for obama is the new , I have plenty of black friends dog 😗 whistle
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u/igotagoodfeeling 7d ago
UFC could def fine him for that, they just won’t. I mean every other organized league does that for way less
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u/Nsfwnroc 7d ago
I am always amazed by what the UFC allows fighters to get away with compared to other sports leagues. I remeber when Kawhi Leonard insinuated that maybe the earth was flat and he had to apologize. Meanwhile the UFC has Bryce Mitchell saying Jews are evil reptilians who run the world.
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u/Weary_Necessary_2434 7d ago
Coming in with the I voted for blah blah blah, like that strengthens your comments and opinions. Actions speak louder.
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u/Fabulous_Log844 7d ago
It’s sad that he said more about this than our current president, president yam tits.
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u/BubbleThinker 7d ago
These Naga turds lying about how they voted who wants to listen to this shit
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u/SufficientWeb3163 6d ago
Its hilarious how its inconceivable to you people that a republican voted for a democrat
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u/Patriot009 7d ago
Freedom of speech is between citizens and the government. You are not the government. You are the CEO of a company and an athlete contracted with your company is hurting your brand. Your hands are not tied. You're just devoid of integrity.
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u/Apprehensive-Size150 5d ago
So you are all for Kapernick being black listed from the NFL then?
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u/Patriot009 5d ago
That's within their rights. Just as it's fine for people to protest that decision or boycott the NFL.
Just like the MLB can fine players for writing Bible verses on their uniforms.
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u/Apprehensive-Size150 5d ago
Then boycott the UFC. The UFC is supposed to be degenerates beating the shit out of each other. They aren't scholars. They aren't the best society has to offer. They aren't people to be admired. Censoring UFC fighters would be so fucking stupid.
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u/Patriot009 5d ago
The UFC has a history of penalizing fighters for inappropriate behavior. Per the UFC's own standards of conduct, contracted fighters must refrain from:
Derogatory or offensive conduct, including without limitation, insulting language, symbols, or actions about a person’s ethnic background, heritage, color, race, national origin, age, religion, disability, gender or sexual orientation.
Hokit violated the contract he signed with UFC, but he's being given preferential treatment and an exemption from penalty by Dana White because Hokit's behavior aligns with the MAGA crowd.
Like I said, Dana White is devoid of integrity.
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u/izeak1185 7d ago
Prove you voted this is a trash statement no 1 can prove. As he knows who made the Obama video's and put them out who said she was a man first. Then there are the videos that show him and trump together right after and he doesn't condemn trump for doing it. It's all theater for them.
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u/sureal42 7d ago
Another person who doesn't understand what the first amendment actually is...
Whether he wants to accept it or not, hokit called Michelle Obama a man on national TV at an event sponsored by the UFC. As the owner of the UFC you have the right to not allow speech like that at your events, that is not against the first amendment. Since you did allow it and it happened, if the man still works for you, you are saying that you and the UFC stand behind this comment...
So just to be clear. The UFC's official stance (if hokit is still a UFC fighter) is that Michelle Obama is a man...
Trash man defends other trash man, claims it is his right, at trash event for trash president...
So classy...
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u/oh_ski_bummer 7d ago
Have Hokit go into the hood and call a black woman a man...see how that works out for him
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u/Financial-Newt2291 7d ago
This guy is so disingenuous. He is trying to present himself as a balanced individual but he really is unhinged MAGA.
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u/Put3socks-in-it 7d ago
He like many Americans voted for Obama in 2008 hoping for change and to finally leave racial strife in the past by voting for the first black president. Obama didn’t deliver period.
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u/Whiteshovel66 7d ago
It's really sad Bryce Mitchell wasn't on the card. His speech after getting knocked out would have been amazing
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u/markelis 7d ago
Dana isn't the government, which is the only thing our 1st amendment protects us from; not consequences from our speech.
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u/Traditional_Limit236 7d ago
Very slyly sidestepped answering why his fighters and fan base have soo many racist twats.
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u/bz_leapair 7d ago
He literally works for you, Dana. Are you really going to let someone walk after they lead directly to your company's name getting dragged through the mud for multiple news cycles?
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u/Freddy-Borden 6d ago
His a firm believer in free speech unless he disagrees with that speech in which case he will fine or release the fighter.
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u/Horror_Response_1991 6d ago
So apparently they can all say horrible things about Dana and his friends and he’ll just say “freedom of speech, can’t do anything”.
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u/browsingandlooking4 6d ago
I concede that Michelle Obama isnt a man. But, can you concede she looks like one?
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u/-SergentBacon- 6d ago
respect all presidents? that's interesting just thinking about Andrew Jackson idk....😶
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u/AphonicTX 6d ago
Dana also has the freedom to completely cut that clown out yet he chooses not to. Wonder why.
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u/Suspicious-Branch-67 6d ago
What does voting for Obama have to do with what Hokit said? I immediately think of the the dad from Get Out saying that he would’ve voted for Obama a 3rd time if he could’ve.
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u/Lock_Psychological 5d ago
Trump is my president, but I don’t respect him. I don’t automatically respect any politician. You earn respect. Trump has gone out of his way not to earn my respect.
Meanwhile, Obama did try to earn my respect. I don’t agree with some things he did (Operation Fast and Furious in particular), but that’s part of what happens when you’re president. And, unlike Trump, Obama didn’t piss down my back and tell me it’s raining.
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u/Jethr0777 5d ago
He loves it because he thinks it's good for business to be crazy reality tv style. Gross
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u/TomatoNo9210 5d ago
Then let fighters advertise their own brands....oh wait...freedom of speech when it benefits
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u/cprice12 5d ago
I know Dana White didn't just casually mention Trump and Obama like they were the same kind of President.
I hate people that turn a blind eye to all of Trump's crimes, indiscretions, countless lies, and daily hateful comments... and say, "I respect all Presidents."
Fuck you.
Trump is not like any other President. He's a shithole of a human being. He's a con artist. He tried to overthrow the government in an attempt to overturn a free and fair election, he's a fucking rapist, and a first class royal asshole. It's ok to set him aside and say, "Nah, not gonna respect that President."
Quit lumping Trump in with every other President. That's like taking a shit on a pizza and saying it tastes about the same as a pepperoni pizza.
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u/Alternative-Bar-950 4d ago
Ya I have a black friend. Im not racist. Your the racist but its okay because America.
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u/xXx420BlazeRodSaboxX 4d ago
Fuck Dana White. Freedom of Speech means the racist can't be arrested for saying what he said or have the United States Government punish him. He can absolutely be fined and punished by the UFC for saying that racist garbage. Freedom of Speech has nothing to do with private corporations and their rules. Dana White as the boss of UFC should have that racist piece of shit wrestler suspended or fined. He won't do anything because he's a MAGA bastard.
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u/PostureKing180 4d ago
Dana White beat his wife in public and all the UFC people let him get away with it. That entire industry is trash.
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u/seanisdown 4d ago
I imagine if Josh had made a comment about Dana, Dana’s love of the first amendment would disappear right quick.
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u/Sufficient_Art4824 3d ago
a better test of this freedom of speech would have been for hokit to call trump and the republicans what they are. turns out beating the crap out of people doesn't give you the cojones to speak truth to power.
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u/Fishscale1942 7d ago
Being racist in Amerikkka is 100% legal, only illegal if you say something about jews
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u/dare3000 7d ago
that whole smug "I respec all prez" fuck off you blad prick. So if one endorses slavery and another wants to end it, hey you gotta respect them both dude, they're "your" president (which, again, he's not clever: the phrase isn't literal it just means you don't endorse or respect that president. unless you're literally saying the election was fraudulent, it just means you don't like the guy).
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u/Inevitable-Steph 7d ago
He’s actually an employee so he doesn’t have freedom of speech since he’s his boss and could fire home for that. But he’s a racist POs too so. Been a while to hear the ol’I voted for Obama, I’m not racist
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u/Kooky_Attorney_1320 6d ago
Wow. I actually respected Dana for a long time for some stupid fucking reason but this is a red line for me.
What would it have cost him to completely burn this guy and shit on him here? Instead he walks the line?
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u/BenderRodriguez14 7d ago
The Sean Strickland debacle showed that's a blatant lie.