'I don't make anybody apologize for anything': UFC president Dana White responds to criticism over 'homophobic word' used by fighters

'I don't make anybody apologize for anything': UFC president Dana White responds to criticism over 'homophobic word' used by fighters

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UFC president Dana White responded to questions about choice words used by fighters at an event in Sydney, Australia, that were deemed "homophobic" by some in the media and even by some fighters.

UFC fighters Charles Radtke, who is American, and Manel Kape from Portugal were both accused of using homophobic slurs when they addressed the crowd and members of an opposing team, respectively.

After a unanimous decision victory at UFC 293, Charles Radtke, who felt he had been treated poorly by the Australia fan base while down under, said, "F**k all you f*****s up in the f**king crowd" during his post-fight interview.

Charles Radke first fighter to get cut after winning a debut with this \ud83d\udc80
— TJ (@TJ) 1694304299

Manel Kape, who also won a unanimous decision victory, directed his comments at fellow fighter Kai Kara-France and his teammates. Kara-France was scheduled to fight Kape but dropped out due to a reported concussion.

"All your teammates [are] a bunch of f*****s," Kape said during a profanity-laden speech.

— (@)

White was asked about the remarks at the post-event press conference when a journalist from MMA Junkie (USA Today) asked about the use of a "homophobic word."

"It was flying around a little bit tonight. I think these guys get a little excited, and you know, you make bad mistakes," White responded. "Radtke did the same thing, you know, and you know me, we didn't run over to him and say 'you better apologize and you better,' he did that on his own, you know.

"When he got backstage he was embarrassed and got caught up in the moment," White noted.

Radtke later issued a written apology as well, saying he planned to "learn from his mistakes" and that he "loves everybody."

"We make mistakes, I am not holier than now either, so we've all been in positions where we've made mistakes, and like I always say, it's how you recover from it and how you carry yourself after you make the mistake."

"I don't make anybody apologize for anything; you do what you want, you're grown men and women. You know you're able to say whatever you want."

Charlie Radke apologizes for his post-fight interview via his IG
— MMA Mania (@MMA Mania) 1694314332

Kape also apologized during his portion of the night's press conference:

“Yeah, I am sorry for that,” Kape said, per BJPenn.com. “It’s emotional, you know. During the fight, during the interview, we are all emotions. We say things that we didn’t want to say, but for [those] who feel bad about that, I apologize.”

Australian UFC fighter and former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker remarked that he didn't like the comments made by the fighters and urged them to "set a good example."

"They were saying some real slurry, bigotry, bad words ... things you can't say in 2024," Whittaker said, according to MMA News.

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Video: Golfers who reportedly are former MMA fighters brawl with crew of apparently angry dads. The dads don't fare too well.

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A pretty one-sided brawl was caught on video at Bailey Ranch Golf Club in Owasso, Oklahoma, on Monday, OutKick reported.

It was pretty one-sided because, according to Tulsa TV sports anchor TJ Eckert — who tweeted video of the melee — the victorious group of golfers are former MMA fighters.

Here's the clip. (Content warning: Language):

\u201cHad this sent to me this morning. \n\nLooks like things went well Monday at Bailey Ranch up in Owasso! \n\nNSFW (or maybe it is) by the way.\u201d
— TJ Eckert (@TJ Eckert) 1683044296

Eckert even put on a little shoe leather for this scoop and offered some details about how and why things went down, courtesy of the warring factions themselves.

“Golfers (pink shirt, bald guy etc.) say kids were running around on course. They told kids to get back on other side of fence so they didn’t get hit by ball. Lady from house yells at golfers, says dads will fight them. Golfers are former MMA fighters,” Eckert wrote.

One of the golfers is seen decking one apparent dad, and then when another one approaches him, the golfer hollers, "You wanna go down, too?" The answer apparently was yes. But the first guy he decked comes back for more, and the golfer tosses a left jab, after which his foe falls again and gets some extra punches to the head.

Another golfer on the far left knocks down another apparent dad with a hard right to the face — and then moves to the ground and gets the dizzied dude in some sort of submission hold. A third fight toward the rear doesn't go very far; a bottle of something or other is throw, not likely by the former MMA fighter.

\u201cHouse side (2/2)\n\nGolfers told house/kids to watch out. House made joke back. Bald guy freaked out, yelled at/cussed out kids and wives.\n\nMen from house ran out to confront golfers/stand up for women and children. Fight ensues.\n\nYOU DECIDE!\u201d
— TJ Eckert (@TJ Eckert) 1683044296

Eckert added the other side of the story from those in the nearby house: “Golfers told house/kids to watch out. House made joke back. Bald guy freaked out, yelled at/cussed out kids and wives. Men from house ran out to confront golfers/stand up for women and children. Fight ensues."

It's unclear if there were any injuries or if police were called.

Some Twitter commenters got a kick out of it, though:

  • "Sounds like the dads got sold to the Fight Club and found out," one commenter quipped.
  • "Wives writing checks their husbands can’t cash…happens a lot," another user observed.
  • "Always check the ears," another commenter advised. "If they look like bloated cauliflowers, avoid confrontation."
  • "Golf needs more of this," another user said. "Ratings will soar."

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Woke hockey reporter suggests NHL player who refused to wear LGBTQ colors should return to Russia, fight Ukraine: 'Go back where you feel more comfortable'

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E.J. Hradek, senior reporter for the NHL Network, suggested during a Wednesday broadcast that Philadelphia Flyers player Ivan Provorov should return to Russia and even fight Ukraine after refusing to wear LGBTQ colors during a pregame warm-up this week for religious reasons.

What's the background?

Provorov declined to skate before Tuesday's "Pride Night" game since his teammates were wearing rainbow colors for their warm-up, ESPN reported. The 26-year-old defenseman told reporters after the Flyers' 5-2 home win over the Anaheim Ducks that he intended "to stay true to myself and my religion," the sports network said.

"I respect everyone," he told reporters, adding that he's Russian Orthodox. "I respect everybody's choices."

\u201c#Flyers Ivan Provorov on his Pride Night pregame boycott :\n\u201cMy choice is to stay true to myself and my religion.\u201d\u201d
— Dan Gelston (@Dan Gelston) 1674015385

What did Hradek have to say about Provorov?

During an "NHL Now!" broadcast, Hradek had a few ideas about what Provorov could do if he doesn't want to take woke marching orders here in the U.S., including returning to Russia.

“Ivan Provorov can get on a plane any day he wants and go back to a place where he feels more comfortable, take less money, and get on with his life that way if it’s that problematic for him,” Hradek said.

The NHL Network reporter noted that Provorov "has been in North America for a long time" after having played two seasons in Manitoba, Canada, in the Western Hockey League and now playing in his seventh season for the Flyers.

“If this is that much of a problem for him to maybe assimilate into his group of teammates and in the community and here in this country, that’s okay — listen, you can feel any way you want. But the beauty is, if it bothers you that much, there’s always a chance to leave. Go back where you feel more comfortable," Hradek continued, before suggesting that Provorov join in the Russian war against Ukraine. "I understand there’s a conflict of sorts going on over there; maybe get involved.”

\u201c@ClayTravis\u201d
— TJ (@TJ) 1674087318

OutKick said it reached out to the National Hockey League for comment regarding Hradek’s statements about Provorov but didn't hear back.

How are folks reacting?

A number of Twitter commenters have more or less declared war against Hradek and his ideas. Some examples:

  • "'Assimilate' is a terrible choice of words. No one should be forced into wearing gay pride gear. Sounds a bit authoritarian, no?" one user said. "Coming from someone who is all for gay marriage."
  • "You are such a douche for criticizing someone for sticking by their beliefs," another commenter said. "It’s called being honorable; you should try it sometime."
  • "Telling him to go back if he can’t assimilate into the USA? Do you feel same about those who come to the USA but never learn English? Should they go back to their county of origin?" another user wondered.
  • "The minute you punish/cancel those of differing viewpoints, you lose all credibility because when you take that step, it [shows] that your idea/concept is failing, and you can only 'win' by force," another commenter said.
  • "Yes...berate others until they behave how you want. They can't have an opinion. That's the leftist way," another user sarcastically pointed out.

Anything else?

ESPN writer Greg Wyshynski — who penned the sports network's initial story about the controversy and also blasted Provorov on Twitter — wrote a follow-up piece about the NHL's "social activism partner" You Can Play, which wants to "work with" Provorov after he "negatively impacted" Pride Night.

You Can Play COO Kurt Weaver told ESPN he's disappointed by how the Flyers and coach John Tortorella handled Provorov's refusal to wear the LGBTQ colors. Tortorella said he didn't consider benching Provorov and respected his personal beliefs.

"The concept of 'team' can mean a lot of things. I think more coaches have to ask what that cohesion of a team means to them," Weaver told the sports network. "At what point does a decision like this that a player wants to make cross over into basically not showing up for your job? I think [Tortorella] did what a coach needs to do, which is support his player's decision. But I would hope that, behind the scenes, there's some more direct conversations around what it means to be a teammate."

Weaver also weighed in on Provorov's faith as his reason for not visibly supporting the LGBTQ community.

"Players who do this sort of thing have a very short perspective on what it means. For me, religion is about charity and inclusion," Weaver added to ESPN. "This wasn't just about a player and a jersey on a patch of ice. What else was affected by this? Visibility and proximity is what breeds understanding and inclusion, and those things were negatively impacted by this. It's disappointing to see that's the outcome from this."

Top WH official resigns after threatening female reporter: 'I know this was terrible'



A top White House communications staffer tendered his resignation over the weekend after uproar over the Biden administration's handling of his alleged threats to a female reporter.

What is the background?

Deputy White House press secretary TJ Ducklo was suspended without pay for one week after he threatened to "destroy" the life of a female reporter who inquired about his relationship with another member of the media. Ducklo was also accused of making "derogatory and misogynistic comments."

However, the reprimand seemingly fell well short of a promise that President Joe Biden made on Inauguration Day.

"I'm not joking when I say this: If you ever work with me and I hear you treat another colleague with disrespect, talk down to someone, I will fire you on the spot. No ifs, ands or buts," Biden told his staff on Jan. 20.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki was confronted last Friday over why Ducklo's punishment seemingly contradicted what Biden had promised. In response, Psaki dodged the questions and claimed Ducklo's reprimand was "serious."

What happened now?

Ducklo announced late Saturday that he had resigned from his job in the West Wing, saying he is "devastated" and "embarrassed" over his behavior.

No words can express my regret, my embarrassment, and my disgust for my behavior. I used language that no woman should ever have to hear from anyone, especially in a situation where she was just trying to do her job. It was language that was abhorrent, disrespectful, and unacceptable.

I am devastated to have embarrassed and disappointed my White House colleagues and President Biden, and after a discussion with White House communications leadership tonight, I resigned my position and will not be returning from administrative leave.

I know this was terrible. I know I can't take it back. But I also know I can learn from it and do better. This incident is not representative of who I am as a person, and I will be determined to earn back the trust of everyone I have let down because of my intolerable actions.
My statement on resigning from the White House. https://t.co/3Jpiiv75vB
— TJ Ducklo (@TJ Ducklo)1613261064.0

Psaki then confirmed that Ducklo had tendered his resignation.

"We accepted the resignation of TJ Ducklo after a discussion with him this evening. This conversation occurred with the support of the White House Chief of Staff," she said in a statement.

Anything else?

Interestingly, the Biden administration only addressed Ducklo's behavior when it became public.

"There were conversations that occurred with the reporter, as well as editors at Politico, immediately after the conversation occurred," Psaki admitted last week. "That was how we engaged in a private manner, and that was what we felt was appropriate at the time."