What started as a celebratory post‑fight interview on the White House lawn — moments after Josh Hokit knocked out Derrick Lewis , handed President Trump a gold chain, and thanked Jesus Christ — turned abruptly surreal when he capped his victory by shouting a baseless insult about Michelle Obama .
“And lastly, Michelle Obama is a man. Am I right, America?” he shouted.
The South Lawn fell silent as Joe Rogan stepped back and ended the segment with a curt, “Ladies and gentlemen, Josh Hokit .” The broadcast never returned to the remark.
The backlash arrived quickly.
UFC CEO Dana White texted Time magazine that while the Obamas are public figures, he was “completely against saying nasty and false things about people’s families.”
“Everyone knows my position on free speech, but I hate that kind of nonsense,” he said.
Mr. White also distanced himself from Mr. Hokit after he made the same claim about WNBA star Brittney Griner after a win at UFC 327.
Comedian Shane Gillis, who attended the event, didn’t hide his discomfort. “Yeah, I didn’t like that,” he told TMZ. “But whatever, he was funny.”
Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III was more direct. “ Josh Hokit won the biggest fight of his career at the White House and decides to finish his interview by calling Michelle Obama a man. What a disgrace,” he wrote on social media. “It takes a really small man to use his biggest moment to attack a woman by calling her a man. Especially with the history behind calling Black women men.”
Sunny Hostin, co‑host of ABC’s The View, placed the moment in a broader historical frame.
“There’s this intersectionality between race, racism, and sexism that was on full display at the White House,” she said on Monday’s broadcast. “The crowd laughed at the statement, and the President of the United States smirked, and never addressed what was said. That is beneath the dignity of the office of the President of the United States, and it’s beneath the dignity of the American people.”
Ms. Hostin added that the remark tapped into a long pattern of demeaning Black women. “Black women have been slurred and made to feel that they were unattractive, made to feel that they were masculine, made to feel that they didn’t have the femininity that a white woman would have,” she said.
Democrats on Capitol Hill piled on. Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico took to social media, calling the comment “disgusting.”
“Ok, so let me get this straight. The dude who puked on himself live on TV during his weigh‑in is hurling insults at the former First Lady now?” she said, alluding to a weigh-in video that circled online of Mr. Hokit.
Rep. Joaquin Castro of Texas blasted Paramount, which streamed the event: “So is this the kind of trash we can expect from Paramount and CBS now?”
The Democratic National Committee posted a portrait of Mrs. Obama with the caption that she “lives in their heads rent‑free.”
White House spokesman Steven Cheung told CNN that Mr. Hokit “had a great win last night” and “showed toughness and the ability to pressure his opponent both on his feet and on the ground.”
Mr. Trump, seated in the front row, appeared to flash a half‑smile seconds after the remark, according to CNN.
Mr. Hokit wasn’t supposed to be on the White House card at all. But after Mr. Trump questioned why Mr. Lewis wasn’t fighting, Mr. White added the bout and matched Mr. Lewis with Mr. Hokit.
Read the full article at The Washington Times →📄Source document: TMZ Interview with Rosie O'Donnell→9 reports
Breitbart NewsIndependentLeft5 days agoComedian Rosie O'Donnell criticized President Donald Trump and his supporters, calling them 'racists, homophobic, and unAmerican,' following a controversial UFC match at the White House. The event became contentious after UFC fighter Josh Hokit referred to former First Lady Michelle Obama as 'a man.' O'Donnell made these remarks during an interview with TMZ. UFC President Dana White later condemned Hokit's comment as 'nonsense' and expressed disapproval of spreading false information about public figures.
Bias read (Left): The article presents Rosie O'Donnell's strong criticism of Trump and his supporters using terms like 'racists, homophobic, and unAmerican,' which align with left-leaning rhetoric. The framing emphasizes the controversy around the event and highlights O'Donnell's condemnation without providing a cent
PolitiFactIndependentCenter5 days agoUFC fighter Josh Hokit made a statement during a post-fight interview at a White House event suggesting that former first lady Michelle Obama is a man. This claim has been repeatedly fact-checked and debunked by PolitiFact, which found no credible evidence supporting the assertion. The article notes that the claim relies on altered images, unverified documents, and out-of-context videos.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a well-known conspiracy theory that has been thoroughly debunked by fact-checking organizations. It provides balanced context, references prior fact-checks, and clearly states there is no credible evidence supporting the claim. The tone is neutral, focusing on the lack of proof,
The Washington TimesIndependentCenter5 days agoUFC champion Josh Hokit faced significant backlash after making an inflammatory comment about Michelle Obama during a post-fight interview on the White House lawn. Hokit, who had just defeated Derrick Lewis and presented President Trump with a gold chain, remarked, 'And lastly, Michelle Obama is a man. Am I right, America?' The comment drew immediate criticism from various figures, including UFC CEO Dana White, comedian Shane Gillis, and former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III. White stated he was against spreading 'nasty and false things' about people's families and distanced himself from H
Bias read (Center): The article presents the events and reactions neutrally without overtly favoring any political side. It includes quotes from multiple individuals expressing disapproval of Hokit's remarks, without taking a stance on the validity of the comments or the political implications.
The Washington TimesIndependentCenter5 days ago UFC fighter Josh Hokit pummelled in the media for disparaging Michelle ObamaUFC fighter Josh Hokit faced significant backlash after making an inflammatory comment about Michelle Obama during a post-fight interview on the White House lawn. Hokit, who had just defeated Derrick Lewis and presented President Trump with a gold chain, remarked, 'And lastly, Michelle Obama is a man. Am I right, America?' The comment drew immediate criticism from various figures, including UFC CEO Dana White, comedian Shane Gillis, and former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III. White stated he was against spreading 'nasty and false things' about people's families and distanced himself from Hō
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a sports-related incident involving a fighter's controversial statement without taking a stance or using biased language. It presents multiple perspectives and reactions without favoring any side.
The HillIndependentCenter6 days agoUFC president Dana White criticized fighter Josh Hokit for making disparaging remarks about former first lady Michelle Obama during a post-fight interview. Hokit claimed Obama is a man, referencing a conspiracy theory popular among the political right. White expressed disapproval of such comments, emphasizing his stance against spreading false and harmful information about individuals' families. The incident occurred during a high-profile event organized by White and hosted on a platform linked to Trump allies.
Bias read (Center): The article presents facts without overtly favoring any side. It reports on Dana White's condemnation of Hokit's remarks, provides context about the conspiracy theory, and mentions calls for Trump to respond. The tone remains neutral, avoiding loaded language or selective sourcing.
USA TodayParty-alignedCenter6 days agoJosh Hokit made a controversial comment about former First Lady Michelle Obama during an event at the White House hosted by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). The remark has sparked significant backlash and criticism.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a specific incident involving a public figure's comment, without overtly favoring any political side. It does not include explicit ideological language or biased sourcing.
NewsweekIndependentRight6 days agoUFC fighter Josh Hokit made controversial remarks during a post-fight interview at the White House, claiming that former first lady Michelle Obama is a man. The statement, which is widely considered false and based on an unfounded conspiracy theory, drew immediate criticism online. Representative Melanie Stansbury and Jon Favreau both condemned the comments.
Bias read (Right): The article presents Hokit's false claim as a conspiracy theory and highlights the backlash against him, including criticism from a Democratic representative and a former Obama speechwriter. The framing emphasizes the controversy and disapproval surrounding the remarks without giving significant air
Official sources cited
- government White House
- government Michelle Obama's Office
Breitbart NewsIndependentRight6 days ago WATCH: UFC Fighter Josh Hokit Declares 'Michelle Obama Is a Man!'UFC fighter Josh Hokit made a controversial statement during a post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, claiming that former First Lady Michelle Obama is a man. The comment occurred after Hokit defeated Derrick Lewis at the White House event Freedom 250. Hokit also presented a chain and pendant to President Donald Trump prior to making the remark. The statement drew criticism from individuals on the left.
Bias read (Right): The article presents Hokit's controversial statement without critical examination or contextual balance, focusing on the shock value of the claim and noting the negative reaction from the left. This framing emphasizes the statement in a manner that aligns with conservative perspectives, suggesting a
NBC NewsIndependentCenter6 days agoA crowd at the UFC Freedom 250 event sang 'Happy Birthday' to Donald Trump. Other segments include a report on Josh Hokit exiting a winning bout by insulting Michelle Obama, JD Vance introducing Pope Francis's brother to Trump, and coverage of the New York Knicks winning their first NBA championship in 53 years.
Bias read (Center): The article covers sports events and does not present any politically charged content or commentary. The mention of political figures is incidental and not framed with bias.
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