Josh Hokit isn’t backing down from calling Michelle Obama a “man.” Instead, he’s making claims about what he supposedly meant.
The fighter, who disrespected Michelle during his post-fight interview at UFC Freedom 250, spoke about his comment on The Ariel Helwani Show, claiming that there was no malicious intent behind his remark.
"I thought I was giving her a compliment," Hokit said around the two-hour and 20-minute mark.
After Helwani explained that no one took the remark as a compliment, Hokit added, “She knows how to deal with adversity. She knows how to work hard like a man when the times get tough.”
As to why he decided to bring up Obama at all, Hokit said, “I thought it was a perfect opportunity to show the world how great this country is with freedom of speech.”
Hokit concluded by saying he won’t be apologizing for his comment.
“You’ll never hear me backtrack from what I say,” he said.
Hokit made the remark at the close of his interview with Joe Rogan, moments after defeating Derrick Lewis by TKO at the event organized to mark America's 250th anniversary.
Hokit had just presented President Donald Trump with a gold chain and praised him from the ring before pivoting to the line: "And lastly, Michelle Obama is a man. Am I right, America?"
UFC President Dana White did not join in the applause. White told Time magazine, "I understand that the Obamas are public figures but I'm completely against saying nasty and false things about people's families. Everyone knows my position on free speech, but I hate that kind of nonsense."
The backlash from the wider sports world was swift and sharp. Daniel Cormier called the remark "completely uncalled for," "gross," and "disgusting" on his YouTube channel.
"Get it together, dude. You don't need to be as outlandish as you are," Cormier said.
Cam Newton called it "tasteless," saying the Obamas "are some good people, they served this country well."
Robert Griffin III unleashed on Hokit on X, writing that the fighter “won the biggest fight of his career at the White House and decides to finish his interview by calling Michelle Obama a Man. What a disgrace. It takes a really small man to use his biggest moment to attack a woman by calling her a man. Especially with the history behind calling black women men."
It wasn’t the first time Hokit made such a remark. In January, at UFC 324, Hokit called WNBA star Brittney Griner a “man” during a post-fight interview.
