UFC heavyweight Josh Hokit is not backing down after calling former First Lady Michelle Obama a “man.” Instead, he says the remark was intended as a compliment.
Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Hokit said, “I thought I was giving her a compliment.” After host Ariel Helwani noted that few people interpreted it that way, Hokit added, “She knows how to deal with adversity. She knows how to work hard like a man when the times get tough.”
Asked why he brought up Obama in the first place, Hokit said, “I thought it was a perfect opportunity to show the world how great this country is with freedom of speech. You go somewhere 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 than that, I’m good.”
He also insisted he would never retract the comment, saying: “You’ll never hear me backtrack from what I say.”
What happened at UFC Freedom 250
During a post-fight interview with Joe Rogan on the South Lawn of the White House at UFC Freedom 250, Hokit closed his remarks by saying, “Michelle Obama is a man, am I right America?”
The comment drew a mixed reaction, with some boos, cheers and laughter from the crowd.
Video aired by CNN showed President Donald Trump appearing to half-smile and remove a chain from around his neck moments after the remark. Earlier, Hokit had placed the chain around Trump’s neck, an interaction later promoted by the White House on X with the caption “real” and a 100 emoji.
Reaction on the South Lawn was largely stunned silence, while spectators gathered on the Ellipse for a watch party appeared divided, with some cheering and others looking puzzled.
The comment echoed a long-running conspiracy theory circulated in some conservative circles about the former first lady, fueling years of memes and online speculation.
Despite criticism, the White House declined to condemn Hokit when asked about the remarks by CNN’s Jake Tapper on June 15.
“He had a great win last night,” White House spokesman Steven Cheung said. “He showed toughness and the ability to pressure his opponent both on his feet and on the ground.”
Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports and a frequent Trump supporter, urged the president to denounce the comment.
“These are UFC guys, they’re crazy. They’re idiots,” Portnoy said. “But when you have that on the White House lawn on an event you put down … I don’t care what you think about the Obamas or anything. That has to be an immediate denounce.”
Representative Joaquin Castro of Texas also criticized Paramount for airing the exchange.
“So is this the kind of trash we can expect from @paramountplus (and @CBS) now,” the Democrat wrote.
Dana White condemns the remarks
UFC President and CEO Dana White criticized Hokit’s comments in a text message to Time.
“I understand that the Obama’s are public figures but I’m completely against saying nasty and false things about people’s families,” White said, adding that he hated “that kind of nonsense.”
The UFC later referred reporters back to that statement when asked for additional comment.
In an interview with ESPN before the White House event, White said he would not tell fighters what they could or could not say.
“I never tell people what to say or not to say. Never, ever do it,” White said. “I put Hokit on this card. I promise you, bad things are going to happen to be said. That I can almost guarantee you.”
Speaking at a press conference for UFC Vegas 119, White again defended free speech.
“Not everyone does, and you have to listen to stupid sh** like that sometimes, unfortunately, because I also believe in free speech.”
White has not announced any disciplinary action against Hokit.
Shannon Sharpe calls for a defamation suit
On his Nightcap show with Chad Johnson and Joe Johnson, Shannon Sharpe criticized Hokit and what he described as a broader double standard in conservative politics.
“You’re not that funny. You’re not that entertaining. And nobody thought that you were funny. It’s easy. And all you did was perpetuate a racial stereotype that you’ve been saying for years. They said the same thing about Venus and Serena. Every time a Black woman becomes something, you, others, some people from that side try to take a shot at them. When is it going to be enough?” Sharpe said.
Sharpe argued that the Obamas should have pursued defamation claims.
However, Snopes reported there is no evidence Michelle filed a lawsuit against Hokit. Fact-checkers found such claims to be false and unsupported by court records or credible reporting.
Under U.S. law, public figures face a high bar in defamation cases, requiring proof that a false statement was made knowingly or with reckless disregard for the truth and that it caused harm. Statements such as Hokit’s are often treated as opinion, hyperbole or conspiracy rhetoric, making successful lawsuits difficult.
Hokit refused to apologize
Hokit didn’t directly address the controversy on Instagram, he posted a photo of himself alongside the caption, “Strong and Courageous. The only two reasons I joined this sport. If you exercise those every single day and back them up with hard work, the money and success will follow. I’m not here to be liked. I’m not here to be a role model. I don’t care. I’m here to succeed. I’ll do whatever it takes to get where I want to go, and if you don’t like it… Come beat me in a fight.”
Rather than being remembered solely for his win over Derrick Lewis at UFC Freedom 250, Hokit now finds himself at the center of a national controversy that has become one of the event’s defining moments.