Josh Hokit refuses to “backtrack” his vile and false comment he made about former First Lady Michelle Obama.
The UFC fighter spoke in regards to the moment in the course of the UFC Freedom 250 event on The Ariel Helwani Show, where he shared he didn’t mean his remark as an insult.
“I assumed I used to be giving her a compliment,” Hokit told Helwani.
After Hokit’s win over Derrick Lewis, he was interviewed by podcaster Joe Rogan when he unexpectedly shouted towards the top of his interview, “And lastly, Michelle Obama is a person. Am I right, America?”
Helwani explained that the comment was not received as a compliment by others.
“She knows how one can cope with adversity. She knows how one can work hard like a person when the times get tough,” he explained.
Michelle was not in attendance on the event; it was checked out as random to bring her up.
“I assumed it was an ideal opportunity to point out the world how great this country is with freedom of speech,” Hokit explained on why he decided to bring her up.
Despite the backlash he’s received, he shared that he will not be going to “backtrack” his comment.
“You’ll never hear me backtrack from what I say,” he said.
Several people condemned Hokit’s derogatory remark toward Michelle including UFC CEO Dana White.
“I understand that the Obamas are public figures but I’m completely against saying nasty and false things about people’s families,” he stated, adding. “Everyone knows my position on free speech but I hate that sort of nonsense.
Cam Newton also spoke out against Hokit on his podcast.
“In our culture, we do not play about certain individuals. Certain individuals are untouchable,” Newton said on 4thand1 podcast. “Should you utter anything disrespectful about an Obama, it doesn’t matter if it is the daughters, it doesn’t matter if it is the wife… They’re some good people; they served this country well.”
He later added, “Who knows whether he was in his right or mistaken mind. But at the top of the day… be very careful and be very mindful the individuals who you ain’t cool with or who you do not like.”
Alexis Ohanian, who’s married to tennis icon Serena Williams, was present on the event but was not there when Hokit made the comment. He stated that the comment was “vile and inappropriate” on X.
Josh Hokit refuses to “backtrack” his vile and false comment he made about former First Lady Michelle Obama. The UFC fighter spoke in regards to the moment in the course of the UFC Freedom 250 event on The Ariel Helwani Show, where he shared he didn’t mean his remark as an insult. “I assumed I used to be giving her a compliment,” Hokit told Helwani.