White slams reporter’s ‘leash’ comment over Strickland’s LGBTQ rant

Article content

Prior to former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland’s loss in Toronto over the weekend, the fighter made some controversial remarks about the LGBTQ community.

Article content

However, UFC president Dana White defended Strickland’s right — and that of any fighter — to say “whatever they want” when he was questioned after Saturday night’s sold-out event at Scotiabank Arena.

Article content

When a reporter suggested that White gives his fighters a “long leash,” White cut him off.

“First of all, I don’t give anybody a leash. A leash? Free speech,” White said.

“To control what people say and to tell people what to believe… I don’t tell any other f****** human being what to say, what to think, and there’s no leashes on any of them.”

White continued: “It’s ridiculous to say I give somebody a leash. Free speech, brother. People can say whatever they want, and they can believe whatever they want.”

Article content

Article content

The controversy stemmed from Strickland going off on a reporter  at a press conference last week after the journalist brought up the fighter’s past comments about the LGBTQ community.

Strickland accused that reporter of being “part of the f****** problem.”

Strickland ranted about electing Justin Trudeau to office and mentioned the Freedom Convoy before telling the reporter he was “f****** pathetic.” Strickland was accused of homophobia and transphobia.

Article content

The reporter didn’t back down and asked the fighter about Bud Light and the trans community after the company’s partnership with trans activist Dylan Mulvaney led to a boycott and plummeting sales of the beer brand.

“Here’s the thing about Bud Light; 10 years ago, to be trans, was a mental f****** illness,” Strickland said.

“And now, all of a sudden, people like you f****** weaseled your way into the world … you are an infection. You are the definition of weakness. Everything that is wrong with the world is because of f****** you. And the best thing is, the world is not buying your f****** bull**** you’re f****** peddling.”

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

UFC didn’t let the Bud Light backlash stop the organization from announcing a deal to make the brew its official beer sponsor. White has defended UFC’s deal with the “patriotic” brand.

Article content