Alexis Ohanian Defends White House UFC Visit, Denounces Fighter's Michelle Obama Slur After 1.6 Million-View Backlash
Updated
Updated · Forbes · Jun 18
Alexis Ohanian Defends White House UFC Visit, Denounces Fighter's Michelle Obama Slur After 1.6 Million-View Backlash
3 articles · Updated · Forbes · Jun 18
Summary
Late Wednesday, Alexis Ohanian said he attended the White House UFC Freedom 250 event because TKO invited him as an owner of five pro teams and a league, after critics branded the gathering racist.
Ohanian also called Josh Hokit's post-fight remark about Michelle Obama “vile and inappropriate,” saying he was already leaving when it happened and welcomed UFC CEO Dana White's condemnation.
A critical tweet that drew 1.6 million views accused Serena Williams' husband of hearing the insult and returning “to his black family,” while other commenters said his presence was especially jarring given attacks Black women, including Williams, have faced.
Ohanian pointed to his 2020 resignation from Reddit's board during the George Floyd protests—when he urged the company to replace him with a Black director—as evidence of his record against hate and violence.
The controversy has widened beyond Ohanian to the White House event itself, where Trump has not rebuked Hokit's comment despite growing calls and instead praised the fighters in a Monday Truth Social post.