UFC president Dana White says the fighter will “say whatever he wants” after middleweight fighter Sean Strickland lashed out when asked about his comments about the LGBT community in the days before a fight. defended rights.
When asked about Strickland, the reporter began questioning White, saying the executive was giving the fighters a “long lead.” White cut him off there.
“First of all, I don't give anyone a leash. A leash? Free speech,” White said. “To control what people say and tell people what to believe, I don't tell other fucking humans what to say or think and I don't hold them in any way. there is no.
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Dana White stands on stage during the UFC 297 press conference at the Elgin and Winter Garden Theater Center on January 18, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario. (Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
“It's ridiculous to say you're going to put chains on someone. It's freedom of speech, brother. People can say whatever they want to say and believe what they want to believe.”
Strickland faced backlash for his comments Wednesday. A reporter brought up Strickland's comments about having a gay son. The reporter mentioned how he is an ally of the LGBT community and that Toronto has a large gay and lesbian community.
Strickland asked a reporter if he was gay, had a gay son, and whether he wanted grandchildren. The reporter said he is not gay and it doesn't matter whether he has grandchildren or not.
“Then you are a weak man,” said Strickland. “You're part of this fucking problem too. You elected Justin Trudeau. I think you're just pathetic when he seizes your bank account. That you don't have a fucking backbone.” In fact, “And when he shuts down your country and seizes your bank accounts, you ask me stupid questions like that. Lose yourself. Move the guy.”
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Sean Strickland prepares to face Doricus du Plessis for the UFC Middleweight Championship during the UFC 297 event on January 20, 2024 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. (Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
The reporter then moved on from Strickland's rant, noting that the fighter had joined Bud Light after the company partnered with trans activist Dylan Mulvaney on a marketing campaign that ended in disaster. and how he planned to use his time to speak out about the trans community.
However, the UFC renewed its partnership with Bud Light in response to the backlash. White explained in October that Anheuser-Busch and Bud Light were the original beer sponsors more than 15 years ago.
“Here's the Bud Light story… 10 years ago, being transgender was mentally ill,” Strickland said. “And now, all of a sudden, people like you have brought you into the world like a weasel… You are an infection. You are the definition of weakness. What's wrong with the world is It's all f—'s fault.'' And the best part is, the world isn't buying your cow, even though you're peddling.
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Dana White speaks to the press during UFC 297 on January 18, 2024 in Toronto. (Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
“The world doesn't say, 'Chicks have XXX,' and that's true. The world doesn't say that, it says, 'No, there are two genders.' is. “I don't want my kids being told at school about who they can have sex with. I don't want my kids being told about their sexual preferences. This man is a terrible enemy.”
On Saturday, Strickland lost his middleweight championship bout to Doricus du Plessis.
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