UFC heavyweight Josh Hokit is under fire after defending a controversial comment he made about former First Lady Michelle Obama following his win at UFC Freedom 250. Speaking on Ariel Helwani’s podcast, Hokit claimed he believed the remark was a compliment, not an insult. The controversy began after his June 14 victory over Derrick Lewis, when he made the comment during a post-fight interview with Joe Rogan. The statement quickly drew criticism from fans, media figures, and several voices within the UFC community.
Josh Hokit says Michelle Obama comment was meant as a compliment
When Ariel Helwani asked Hokit why he made the remark, the undefeated heavyweight claimed he was trying to praise Obama’s toughness.“I thought I was giving her a compliment,” Hokit said. “I don’t think anyone viewed it as Michelle Obama being a man. It’s more like she knows how to deal with adversity, she knows how to work hard like a man when the times get tough.”Hokit also said he wanted to use the moment to highlight free speech.“It was a perfect opportunity to show the world how great this country is with the freedom of speech,” he said. “In other parts of the world, you say something like that and you die.”Even after facing criticism, Hokit made it clear he has no intention of apologizing. “You’ll never hear me backtrack from what I say,” he said during the interview.
Daniel Cormier and Dana White criticize Josh Hokit over UFC Freedom 250 remarks
The reaction inside the UFC world was largely negative. UFC president Dana White quickly distanced himself from the comments. According to Time magazine, White publicly denounced the remark after the event.Former UFC champion and analyst Daniel Cormier was even more direct during his podcast.“The comments that he made in the Octagon just made no sense,” Cormier said. “It was irresponsible, it was nasty, it was horrible, and it was unnecessary.”Cormier also expressed disappointment that Hokit overshadowed what should have been one of the biggest wins of his career.“Michelle Obama is as classy a person as you will ever meet,” Cormier added. “That’s the type of statement that divides, when in reality, we as a country should be trying to come together.”Despite the backlash, Hokit has continued to stand by his comments. In a recent Instagram post, he wrote that he is “not here to be liked” and would do “whatever it takes” to achieve success.
