UFC fighter Josh Hokit took the opportunity Tuesday to explain why he declared “Michelle Obama is a man” after winning a fight at the White House’s UFC Freedom 250 event.
During an appearance on “The Ariel Helwani Show,” Hokit said, “I thought I was giving her a compliment.” When Helwani said that wasn’t how people had taken his comment, Hokit continued, “Michelle Obama being a man … it’s like, she knows how to deal with adversity. She knows how to work hard like a man when the times get tough.”
Hokit made the disparaging remarks on June 14 in an interview immediately following his victory over Derrick Lewis in a heavyweight fight. Talking to commentator Joe Rogan on the Paramount+ livestream, the fighter unexpectedly shouted into the microphone, “And lastly, Michelle Obama is a man. Am I right, America?,” causing the live audience in Washington, D.C., to erupt in shouts. The incendiary comments were roundly criticized on social media but went unaddressed throughout the remainder of the broadcast. Appearing flustered, Rogan backed away from the fighter and said, “Ladies and gentlemen, Josh Hokit.”
Hokit later told Helwani that his comment showcased America’s freedom of speech. “I thought it was a perfect opportunity to show the world how great this country is with freedom of speech. You go somewhere [else in the world] and you say something like that and you die. And I’m not suicidal by the way. I’m in good spirits. I’m a little under the weather right now but other that than, I’m good. And so in other parts of the world, you say something like that and you’re not here to speak to Ariel Helwani, you know. So yeah, I don’t know there’s a ways — there’s a few answers to that. There’s a certain side that pokes at another side and there’s no outrage there and so I thought it was a perfect time to take a jab.”
