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Podcaster Joe Rogan said organizers of the UFC Freedom 250 primetime fight night held at the White House earlier this month should not have booked one of the fighters who made an offensive comment about Michelle Obama.
Rogan, who served as emcee for the event and endorsed President Trump during the 2024 presidential election, was referring to fighter Josh Hokit’s remarks, after he falsely referred to the former first lady as a man following his fight victory.
“Michelle Obama is a man, am I right America?” Hokit shouted to the crowd gathered at the White House during a post-match interview in the ring conducted by Rogan himself.
“That guy, Josh Hokit, he’s got a shtick. Like, he’s got a character, he does, The Incredible Hoke,” Rogan said on the latest episode of his podcast.
“He’s basically like a pro-wrestling bad guy, who also is a really good fighter,” he continued. “So there’s a real problem there. This guy keeps winning.”
Rogan also admitted that organizers, in hindsight, “probably shouldn’t have had him fight on the White House lawn” if they wanted to avoid controversy.
“Because if he said that at the T-Mobile Arena or in Madison Square Garden, outrageous, but not that big a deal,” he said.
Hokit responded to the backlash over his comment at the UFC event by saying he was giving the first lady a “compliment.”
“I thought I was giving her a compliment. I don’t think anyone viewed it as Michelle Obama being a man,” he told podcaster Ariel Helwani. “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.”
“It was a perfect opportunity to show the world how great this country is with freedom of speech,” he continued. “In other parts of the world, you say something like that and you die.”
Hokit doubled down on his comment, adding that he will never “backtrack” from what he says.
Rogan previously voiced concerns about the fight set up in general, and the decision to stage it on the South Lawn in the heat that could potentially affect fighters.
“The White House thing is odd. I don’t like it,” he said at the time. “I just don’t think that you should compete in a world championship fight in a non-controlled environment.”
Despite the earlier criticisms, the podcaster ultimately praised the event overall, describing the spectacle as “amazing.”
The primetime fight, held on the White House South Lawn on Trump’s 80th birthday, was part of the administration’s broader celebrations marking America’s 250th birthday.
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