Josh Hokit sparks controversy by claiming Michelle Obama is a man after UFC fight at the White House
Despite winning the UFC Freedom 250 event, fighter Josh Hokit led a moment of great controversy with an unexpected statement shortly after his fight.
Following his heavyweight triumph over Derrick Lewis, which took place on June 14 on the White House lawn, Hokit gave an interview to Joe Rogan for Paramount+. At the conclusion of his statements, he said: “And lastly, Michelle Obama is a man. Am I right, America?”, surprising everyone.
Host Joe Rogan showed visible discomfort, but limited his response to the formal introduction: “Ladies and gentlemen, Josh Hokit.” The fighter’s controversial statement was no longer addressed during the official broadcast of the event.
As the evening progressed, the tone of political discussions remained more subdued. The main focus was on the honor of the competitors in fighting at the White House, with a focus on celebrating veterans and first responders, a context that made Hokit’s speech even more out of touch with the atmosphere of celebration and tribute.
The event was attended by then-President Trump, who watched the fights from the front row, positioned between his wife, Melania, and UFC CEO, Dana White.
This was not the first time that Hokit stood out for his controversial and eccentric behavior, both in the octagon and outside of it. He had already generated controversy at the weigh-in at the previous event, simulating vomiting and uttering provocative phrases: “So what? Maybe I drank last night. Who wouldn’t? There’s a huge black guy who wants to knock me out. He has the most knockouts in UFC history.”
Furthermore, the fighter demonstrated his outgoing and intrusive nature during the pre-fight MMA press conference on June 12. On that occasion, Hokit interfered in questions directed at other athletes, causing irritation among his professional colleagues.
A video of the moment in question was widely circulated on platform X, as shared by Tim Miller, from The Bulwark, quickly circulating on social media.
