UFC heavyweight fighter Josh Hokit finds himself at the center of a storm following a controversial remark that cast a shadow over his triumph at UFC Freedom 250, held on the iconic White House lawn.
During a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Hokit staunchly defended the post-fight comment that many perceived as disparaging toward former First Lady Michelle Obama. Hokit, however, maintains that he intended no offense.
“I thought I was giving her a compliment,” Hokit asserted, hoping to clarify his intentions.
Host Ariel Helwani pressed further, questioning how Hokit could perceive his words as complimentary. The explanation that followed seemed only to fan the flames of the controversy.
“Michelle Obama being a man, that’s like, she knows how to deal with adversity. She knows how to work hard like a man when the times get tough,” Hokit elaborated, attempting to redefine his comment as one of respect for her resilience and work ethic.
The remark stems from Hokit’s June 14 victory over Derrick Lewis at UFC Freedom 250, where he closed his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan by declaring, “Michelle Obama is a man. Am I right, America?”
The comment immediately generated backlash, including criticism from UFC CEO Dana White.
White told the Los Angeles Times he is “completely against saying nasty and false things about people’s families,” adding, “Everyone knows my position on free speech but I hate that kind of nonsense.”
Hokit, however, said he viewed the moment as an opportunity to make a statement about free speech.
“I thought it was a perfect opportunity to show the world how great this country is with the freedom of speech,” he said.
Asked whether he regretted the comment, Hokit made it clear he has no plans to apologize.
“That’s one thing about my career,” Hokit said. “You’ll never hear me backtrack from what I say.”
Despite the criticism, Hokit remains one of the UFC’s fastest-rising heavyweight contenders, improving to 4-0 in the promotion with his win over Lewis.