Dave Portnoy, a longtime supporter of President Donald Trump and founder of Barstool Sports, is drawing attention after publicly calling on the president to condemn a controversial remark made by UFC fighter Josh Hokit during a high-profile event held on the White House lawn in Washington, DC. Portnoy’s response to the incident has gone viral and highlighted some of the glaring issues with the UFC Freedom 250 event.
The controversy erupted following the special event hosted on the South Lawn to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary and Trump’s 80th birthday. After defeating Derrick Lewis, Hokit used his post-fight interview to repeat a long-running conspiracy theory about former First Lady Michelle Obama. The comment immediately sparked backlash online and quickly became one of the most discussed moments from the event.
Speaking on his Wake Up Barstool program the following morning, Portnoy said the incident crossed a line and argued that it deserved a direct response from Trump. “There was one moment I do think Trump has to denounce, and anybody associated with it has to denounce,” Portnoy said. Referring to Hokit, he added that the fighter “made a derogatory comment about Michelle Obama” and that such remarks should not go unanswered when delivered from a stage set up at the White House.
Portnoy emphasized that his criticism was not directed at the UFC event itself. Instead, he argued that the setting elevated the significance of the fighter’s comments. “I guess you run that risk because these guys are lunatics,” referring to the invited UFC fighters. “When you have that on the White House lawn, on an event you put on, I don’t care what you think about the Obamas or anything, that has to be an immediate denounce,” he said.
People online called Portnoy out
As of Tuesday, Trump had not publicly addressed Hokit’s remarks. However, UFC CEO Dana White distanced himself from the comments. In a statement reported by multiple outlets, White said he opposes attacks on public figures’ families and described Hokit’s remarks as both false and unnecessary. Meanwhile, the internet was quick with its retort against Portnoy, and while they might have aligned with his sentiments regarding Michelle Obama, they also pointed out Portnoy’s political stance.
“This is the sort of people your media empire creates. Do you not get that you [expletive]?” rants an angry X commenter. Another commenter thought that Portnoy’s complaint would likely fall on deaf ears, because, “Ah yes I’m sure the guy who literally posted a video of the Obamas as monkeys will denounce that. Right wingers are so impossibly [expletive] [expletive].”
Others, however, reiterated how much they agreed with Portnoy regardless of his political stance, “If Dave [expletive] Portnoy even sees something wrong with this that’s [expletive] sayin something.” Portnoy’s opinion on the matter has no doubt raised an ongoing debate between the two political spectrums of the United States about the responsibilities of public figures appearing at government-sponsored events.
