Tanika Ray Says Mario Lopez Is MAGA, Reviving Deleted Denial

Q: Why does Mario Lopez's former co-host claim he is 'maga' despite his public denial?

Mario Lopez’s former co-host, Tanika Ray, appears to be basing her claim on personal familiarity with him rather than on any new public evidence. After Lopez denied being politically aligned with Trump in a deleted Instagram comment, Ray responded publicly that she could “confirm this is true,” and later added that he is “Mexican and maga,” while also describing him as “a capitalist first.” Her comments suggest she believes his private views or choices do not match his public denial. That said, the public record cited around Lopez is circumstantial rather than definitive. The video accusing him pointed to his support for a UFC event tied to the White House, his social-media follows of Trump and Donald Trump Jr., his 2016 interview with Trump, and past comments describing himself as conservative and praising his immigrant parents for coming to the U.S. “the right way.” Critics have treated those signals as evidence of sympathy with Trump-world politics. Lopez, however, has denied that interpretation. He said his UFC-related post was about supporting his friend Dana White, not politics, said he did not attend the White House event, and insisted he is “not a political person.” So the gap is this: Ray is asserting a personal insider view, while Lopez is publicly rejecting the label and framing his actions as nonpolitical. No independent evidence in the reporting definitively resolves that dispute.

Q: Is it still possible for major celebrities to remain truly apolitical in the public eye?

It is possible for major celebrities to try to stay publicly nonpartisan, but it is increasingly hard for them to be seen as truly apolitical. Mario Lopez’s case shows why. He said his support for a White House UFC event was about his friendship with Dana White, not politics, and described himself as someone who cares more about family, community, culture and faith than political fights. Yet his social-media follows, past interview with Donald Trump, and earlier comments about being conservative were enough for others to place him in a political camp anyway. Even his denial became a news story. That reflects a broader shift in celebrity culture. Public figures are now judged not only by what they explicitly endorse, but by who they associate with, what events they attend, what causes they avoid, and even what they choose not to say. In a highly polarized media environment, silence is often interpreted as a statement, and neutrality can look strategic rather than genuine. There is also a practical limit to being apolitical when celebrities have large platforms. Their work, endorsements, philanthropy and public appearances often overlap with social issues, and audiences increasingly expect them either to speak up or to explain why they will not. So the real distinction is between being personally disengaged and being publicly perceived as neutral. A major celebrity can avoid formal political advocacy, but controlling how that stance is interpreted has become much harder.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 7

Tanika Ray, Lopez’s former “Extra” co-host, wrote in comments Thursday that she could “confirm this is true” and said Lopez is “happy with his choice.”
Those remarks revived a BuzzFeed report that said Lopez had posted — then deleted — an Instagram comment denying he was a MAGA supporter.
Lopez said critics had their “facts straight” wrong, insisting he did not attend the White House UFC event and only backed friend Dana White, adding he “could care less” about politics.
The MAGA label stemmed from his support for a UFC fight on the White House lawn, his follows of Trump-related accounts and a 2016 Trump interview in which he called himself a conservative Latino.
Lopez has otherwise stayed largely apolitical in public, emphasizing his Christian faith more than partisan politics.