UFC president Dana White has weighed in on a heated debate over so-called “cancel culture” following the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Known for his outspoken views and close friendship with Donald Trump, White said he disagrees with conservatives and White House allies calling for reprisals against liberals who celebrated Kirk’s passing.
White Stresses Free Speech, Even for Hate Speech
When asked if UFC fighters should face consequences for controversial social media posts, White made it clear he values free speech above all, even when it involves offensive or hateful comments.
“I’m a big believer in free speech, and unfortunately probably the most important speech to protect is hate speech,” he told CBS News.
He also emphasized that while celebrating someone’s death is morally wrong, he does not support destroying people’s lives over mistakes.
“I think you’re a disgusting human being if you’re celebrating the death of another human being, but people make mistakes and people are gonna do dumb things.
I don’t like trying to destroy people’s lives over doing something dumb,” White said.
Conservative Debate Over Retaliation Intensifies
The death of Kirk sparked an aggressive campaign by some conservatives to track down liberals who posted offensive comments.
This has sparked an internal debate over whether targeting political opponents in this way is ethical or hypocritical.
Conservative commentator Raquel Debono questioned whether the retaliation aligns with Christian or conservative values, calling it a betrayal of the principles the right claims to uphold.
Some activists, including conservative speaker Olivia Krolczyk, reportedly contacted hundreds of employers in the days following Kirk’s death, escalating tensions within the movement.
Personal Impact on White and His Family
White spoke candidly about the personal impact of Kirk’s death, noting how it affected his family.
“I was actually surprised by how impacted my kids were. My kids used to watch him on social media.
My daughter, she’s 19, she’s in college, and she’s been just destroyed over this thing for the last couple days.
You have to feel horrible for his family. It’s f***ing crazy,” he shared on a podcast.
White and Kirk’s Longstanding Friendship
White and Kirk were publicly seen together in August 2023, with Kirk praising the UFC chief as “the best president of any sports league anywhere in the world.”
The UFC also paid tribute to Kirk at its ‘UFC Noche’ event on Saturday night.
Dana White’s Close Ties to Trump and Upcoming White House Event
White has maintained a strong friendship with Donald Trump for over 20 years, attending several political events and supporting him through multiple campaigns.
The two have recently collaborated to plan a historic UFC fight card on the South Lawn of the White House.
“The fighters will actually walk from the Oval Office into the Octagon,” White revealed on a podcast.
He confirmed that the event’s details, including exclusive capacity, were finalized in a meeting at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in late August.
Excitement Builds for the Historic Fight Card
White said that the upcoming event is generating high enthusiasm among fighters.
“Everybody wants to fight on the card that night,” he told CBS News, highlighting the unique spectacle of combining politics and mixed martial arts for a once-in-a-lifetime event.